A judge has ordered Donald Trump to be sentenced on January 10 in his money laundering case in New York – less than two weeks before he is sworn in as president.
Judge Juan Murchan has signaled that he will sentence Trump to parole, which closes the case without jail time, fines or probation, and that the president-elect can appear in person or virtually at the hearing.
The case stems from Trump's conviction in May of 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
Trump tried to use his victory in the presidential election to dismiss the case against him.
The ruling stems from Trump's attempt to cover up reimbursements to his former lawyer Michael Cohen, who in the final days of the 2016 campaign. paid adult movie star to keep quiet about alleged sex with Trump.
The president-elect has 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 lawsuit, Trump's defense argued that the case would loom over his presidency and hinder his ability to govern.
The judge has been advised there are several measures he can use that could assuage Trump's fears of being distracted by a criminal case while he is president that has failed to meet the “extreme remedy” of overturning the conviction to the jurors.
Judge Murchan was weighing his options, which included delaying the sentence until Trump, 78, leaves the White House in 2029, or guaranteeing a sentence that would not include prison time.
Trump initially and unsuccessfully argued that the case against him ran afoul of 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 prosecution for “official acts” they take while in office.
Last month, however, Judge Murchan ruled that Trump's hush money conviction stood.
His sentencing on January 10 will make him the first felon to serve in the White House.
Although falsifying business records is punishable by up to four years in prison in the US, there is no minimum sentence and no jail time is required.
Even before his election victory, legal experts thought Trump was unlikely to face prison time given his age and criminal record.
Trump has also been charged in three other state and federal criminal cases: one involving classified documents and two related to his alleged efforts to reverse his 2020 election loss.
The president-elect was originally scheduled to be sentenced on November 26, but Judge Murchan postponed the date after Trump won the presidential election.
A Trump spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.