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A judge has ordered Donald Trump to be sentenced on January 10 in his hush money case in New York, less than two weeks before he is sworn in as president.
Judge Juan Merchán noted that he would sentence Trump to probation, in which a case is closed without jail time, fine or probation, and that the president-elect could appear in person or virtually at the hearing.
The case stems from Trump’s conviction in May on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
Trump had attempted to use his victory in the presidential election to dismiss the case against him.
The conviction arose from Trump’s attempt to cover up reimbursements to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, who in 2016 paid the adult film star to keep quiet about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump.
The president-elect denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty, arguing the case was an attempt to damage his 2024 presidential campaign.
In its latest motion against the case, Trump’s defense had argued that the case would weigh on him during his presidency and impede his ability to govern.
The judge had been told there were several measures he could employ to calm Trump’s concerns about being distracted by a criminal case while serving as president that stopped short of the “extreme remedy” of overturning the jury’s verdict.
Judge Merchan had been weighing his options, which included delaying sentencing until Trump, 78, leaves the White House in 2029, or guaranteeing a sentence that would not carry a prison sentence.
Trump had initially argued, unsuccessfully, that the case against him contradicted a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity in his first motion to dismiss the case.
In July, the country’s highest court ruled that presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution for “official actions” they take while in office.
However, last month Judge Merchan ruled that Trump’s conviction for silence was valid.
His Jan. 10 sentencing will make him the first felon to serve in the White House.
The president-elect was initially scheduled to be sentenced on November 26, but Judge Merchan pushed back the date after Trump won the presidential election.
A Trump spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
