Just 10 days before the inauguration, Judge Juan Melchan declared President-elect Donald Trump was indicted Friday morning in a New York criminal case in which a jury previously found him guilty of all 34 counts of falsifying business records.
Trump received “unconditional release.” This means no jail time, fines, or probation. The ruling does not affect Trump's return to the White House, but it does formalize his felony conviction.
“I impose that sentence to cover all 34 charges.”
“As a matter of law, under criminal law, there is no conviction until the defendant is sentenced,” said Andy McCarthy, a former assistant U.S. attorney. explained At the time of the interview in November. “So what we have at this point is a jury finding of guilt, and President Trump has filed a post-trial motion to set them aside.”
mccarthy said The conviction had not yet been recorded in the court record before the sentence was handed down. Now that the verdict is in writing, Trump can appeal the jury's conviction.
On Tuesday, Trump's lawyers filed an emergency motion with the U.S. Supreme Court seeking a postponement of Marchand's scheduled sentencing, after a judge rejected a similar motion from the defense the day before.
Trump's lawyers, Todd Blanche and Emile Bove, asked that sentencing be delayed while they appeal Marchand's decision to deny an earlier motion to dismiss the case.
The Supreme Court rejected President Trump's request for a delay in a 5-4 vote Thursday.
The justices' ruling stated: “First, any alleged evidentiary violations in President-elect Trump's state court trial can be addressed through the normal appellate process. Second, the sentencing will place the responsibility on the president-elect. The burden it imposes is relatively light.” Given the trial court's stated intention to impose a sentence of “unconditional release” after a short virtual hearing. ”
Bove and District Attorney Alvin Bragg attended Friday's sentencing in person, while Trump and Branch watched remotely from Mar-a-Lago.
of washington post Marchan reported that he referred to Trump as “Mr. Trump” rather than “President Trump” during Friday's hearing.
As the trial progressed, Mr. Bragg's prosecutor told Mr. Machan that the prosecution had recommended a “sentence of unconditional release.”
“The verdict was reached by a carefully selected jury,” prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said.
The jury's decision was “unanimous,” he said, even though Machan acknowledged the jurors' disagreement over “unlawful means,” or which of the three options the crime was committed. Ta.
Steinglass accused President Trump of “relentlessly launching baseless attacks” on courts, judges and prosecutors. He claimed that President Trump has used “dangerous” rhetoric and shown a lack of remorse.
Trump spoke at the sentencing hearing, calling the case “a setback for New York and its court system.”
“It was done to damage my reputation in order to lose me the election, but it clearly didn't work,” he asserted.
President Trump continued, “He was indicted for referring to legal costs as legal costs.” “All I'm saying is I think this is a disgrace to New York.”
Marchand issued his sentence following President Trump's statement.
“Never before has this court been presented with such a unique and remarkable set of circumstances,” Marchand said.
“At this time, I am imposing that sentence to cover all 34 charges,” he said, handing President Trump unconditional release. “Your Excellency, I wish you the best of luck in your second term.”
During the hearing, Blanche said the defense plans to appeal.
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