by Sharon Rondeau
(Jan. 10, 2025) — 9:08 AM EST — After the U.S. Supreme Court declined Thursday to issue an order delaying the sentencing of President-Elect Donald J. Trump for convictions on 34 counts of allegedly falsifying business records in New York State, a virtual sentencing will take place at 9:30 AM EST today.
In a 5-4 two-paragraph decision, the Supreme Court wrote that Trump can directly seek redress in an “ordinary course on appeal” through the New York State Court System and that “the burden that sentencing will impose on the President-Elect’s responsibilities is relatively insubstantial in light of the trial court’s stated intent to impose a sentence of ‘unconditional discharge’ after a brief virtual hearing.”
Acting judge Juan Merchan, who Trump’s legal team has accused of political bias and whose daughter is a major fundraiser for Democrat politicians, has said sentencing will “likely” carry no jail time, fine or other penalty other than the felony convictions themselves.
The case was filed by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who Trump has said pressed charges only under duress from the Biden regime.
In June White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre appeared to confirm Trump’s assertion.
Last July the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that any president enjoys “absolute immunity” from criminal prosecution for actions taken while in office. As the convictions were reached after the New York County jury heard testimony, some of which was gleaned from former Trump White House aides and confidants describing events occurring while Trump was in office, Trump’s lawyers have argued the convictions should not stand.
Trump has been unsuccessful in that regard to date.
“While this Court as a matter of law must not make any determination on sentencing prior to giving the parties and Defendant an opportunity to be heard, it seems proper at this juncture to make known the Court’s inclination to not impose any sentence of incarceration a sentence authorized by the conviction but one of the People concede they no longer view as a practicable recommendation. As such, and balancing the Afro mentioned considerations in conjunction with the underlying concerns of the Residential community doctrine, a sentence of an unconditional discharge appears to be the most viable solution to ensure finality and allow Defendant to pursue his appellate options,” Merchan wrote in his January 3 order.
The sentencing, originally scheduled for last July, has been delayed three times.
Trump has maintained his innocence throughout and said he will appeal the convictions.
After the high court’s decision was released, Trump did not condemn it, but rather, thanked the court for its “time and effort” “in trying to remedy the great injustice done to me by the highly conflicted ‘Acting Justice,’ who should not have been allowed to try this case…”
In keeping with New York State procedure precluding cameras in the courtroom unless the presiding judge grants permission, the sentencing will not be televised. Reporters will be stationed outside the courtroom, Newsweek reported Friday morning.
Following hearings in the case last year as well as in the action brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James accusing the Trump Organization of inflating the value of its real-estate holdings to “defraud” “the People” and banks with whom it conducted business, Trump made public remarks to the press waiting outside.
Trump will be inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States on Monday, January 20 at noon. His inaugural committee has projected a record-breaking $200 million+ will have been raised by that time, the AP reported.
Atty. Robert Gouveia is providing live coverage on his “X” channel.