Donald Trump, president-elect and convicted felon, will be sentenced in New York

Ten days before the presidential inauguration, Donald Trump is scheduled to be sentenced Friday morning in New York for committing what the judge in his case described as “intentional and continuing fraud” against illegal influence presidential elections in 2016.

President-elect Trump, who plans to attend the 9:30 a.m. hearing virtually from his Mar-a-Lago estate, is expected to receive the award the lightest sentence possible permissible under New York law, although the verdict effectively finalizes his unprecedented status as the first former president to be convicted as a felon.

The sentencing hearing ends an embarrassing and nearly decade-long ordeal for the former president, who has long maintained his innocence but gave weeks of testimony detailing his alleged plan to influence the 2016 election. it’s worth it adult film actress who stated she had an affair with Trump in 2006, three months after his wife gave birth to his youngest son.

“So tomorrow I will do my part. They can have fun with their political opponent,” Trump told reporters Thursday evening before the verdict was announced.

Trump was convicted by a jury in May after a six-week trial and was scheduled to be sentenced in July, but Supreme Court ruling and his successful presidential campaign helped his lawyers delay sentencing three times. His lawyers tried to do the same this week but were denied four times — including by the U.S. Supreme Court — after arguing that Trump, as president-elect, should be shielded from criminal prosecution.

“Forcing President Trump to prepare for sentencing in a felony case while he prepares to lead the free world as President of the United States in less than two weeks places an unbearable, unconstitutional burden on him that undermines these vital national interests ” – he added. Trump’s lawyers argued unsuccessfully.

A narrowly divided Supreme Court rejected that request on Thursday evening, with the Court’s three liberal justices joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Trump appointee Amy Coney Barrett. The majority wrote that the hearing imposed a “relatively insignificant” burden on Trump based on his expected sentence.

Judge Juan Merchan, who has been overseeing the case since April 2023, suggested in a court filing last week that he planned to sentence Trump to unconditional release, a rarely used option that allows a judge to finalize a sentence in a case without sending the sentence down. If the sentence is released unconditionally, Trump will receive no prison time, fines or probation.

While Merchan could have sentenced Trump to four years in prison, he chose to give him the lightest sentence possible to “ensure legitimacy” – including Trump’s right to appeal – while respecting the principle of presidential immunity, which goes into effect on January 1, 20, when Trump becomes president .

The verdict is expected to last about an hour and will include a so-called speech during which Trump will be able to make a statement to the court. Judge Merchan is also expected to comment on the nature of the crime for which Trump was convicted. In testimony last week, the judge sharply criticized what he called Trump’s “contempt” for the judiciary.

“Defendant’s contempt of any third party government, state or federal, in New York or elsewhere, is a matter of public record,” Merchan wrote. “In fact, the defendant has gone to great lengths to demonstrate on social media and other forums his lack of respect for judges, juries, the grand jury and the entire justice system.”

Since the verdict, Trump has maintained his innocence and baselessly claims that he is the victim of political persecution directed by the federal government. Leaving the courtroom shortly after the guilty verdict in May, Trump called the trial a “disgrace” and Judge Merchan “corrupt.”

“The true verdict will be rendered by the people on November 5,” the newly convicted Trump announced.