“This baseless political attack is nothing but a charade,” wrote the president-elect, set to assume office on January 20, on his social media platform, Truth Social.
Judge Juan Mercan stated that Trump, the first former president to face a criminal conviction, could attend the sentencing either in person or via virtual means.
In an 18-page decision, Mercan dismissed multiple motions from Trump’s legal team to overturn the conviction.
Judge Juan Mercan stated he intends to issue an “absolute release” instead of imposing a prison sentence. This would mean Trump’s conviction would stand, but he would face no prison time, fines, or probation a significantly lighter sentence that would still allow him to enter the White House, albeit as a convicted felon.
Last May, a New York court found Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records. The charges stemmed from efforts to conceal a payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election, intended to prevent her from disclosing an alleged sexual encounter with Trump in 2006.
