A judge has denied Donald Trump’s motion to dismiss a case against him and scheduled sentencing for January 10—a significant date as it coincides with the start of the Republican presidential primaries
New York Judge Juan M. Merchan has denied Donald Trump’s request to dismiss his conviction in the case involving payments to actress Stormy Daniels. He has scheduled sentencing for January 10, 2025. This ruling comes less than two weeks before Trump is set to assume the presidency again on January 20.
Case Details
- Charges: Trump was found guilty in May 2024 on 34 counts of falsifying business records, related to a $130,000 payment to Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign to silence allegations of an alleged extramarital affair.
- Presidential Immunity: Trump’s defense argued that the recent Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity should apply to his case. However, Judge Juan Merchan determined that the acts in question occurred before his presidency, so such immunity does not apply.
Sentencing
Judge Merchan has indicated he will not impose a prison sentence on Trump and is leaning toward an unconditional waiver of the conviction, allowing the case to be dismissed if Trump is not arrested again. This decision marks a historic moment, as Trump could become the first president to assume office with an active criminal conviction.
Trump’s attorneys have the option to appeal this decision, which could further complicate the legal process in the days leading up to his inauguration.
Image: DiarioNY
