George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley said Tuesday that the judge presiding over President-elect Donald Trump's hush-money case could count his inauguration as community service.
Judge Juan Melchán, who is overseeing the case, on Tuesday granted a request by prosecutors and defense attorneys to suspend all deadlines and the president-elect's sentencing date to scrutinize the impact of Trump's victory. Judge Turley said the idea of delaying the case until after President Trump's inauguration was not a “welcome” idea, saying the judge could instead count the president's term as community service or impose a prison sentence. It was suggested that there is a possibility that there is no guarantee. (Related article: 'I can't accept that': Frank Luntz puts a damper on theory that 'misinformation' helped Trump win over 'Latino man')
“There will be some adjustments to what can still be reviewed,” Turley said. said Fox News. “It's a very strange way to deal with this in that it leaves the case pending for four years. You know, sentencing only creates[s] If a judge issues a restriction on the president, it conflicts with the president's duties. He could have simply said, “I have no intention of imposing jail time or home confinement.” He could even say that being president equals community service. ”
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“I mean, there could have been a lot of ways he could have handled this issue, so I think we'll have to look at what Trump's lawyers would do if we break this down a little bit more.” I don't know if they would welcome the idea of keeping it as a zombie case for four years,” Turley said.
A jury in late May indicted Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 hush-money payment to former porn actress Stormy Daniels, who claims she had an affair with the current president-elect in 2006. convicted the president. Mr. Machan set a sentencing date. The trial was extended until Nov. 26 to allow the case to be filed after the election, but the judge has now suspended the case until Nov. 19. (Related: CNN's Ellie Honig says Trump's future sentencing is a “50-50 decision'')
Trump's victory in the Nov. 5 election made it “logically impossible” for him to serve prison time during his presidential term, as the state cannot “interfere with the president's ability to carry out his duties.” legal experts told the Daily Caller News Foundation on Wednesday. .
Special Counsel Jack Smith is currently reviewing the dismissal of two federal charges brought against Trump for allegedly storing classified documents at Mar-a-Lago and for engaging in a conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election results. We are in discussions with the Department of Justice (DOJ). January 6, 2021 Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis indicted Trump and 18 others in August 2023 for allegedly trying to overturn Georgia's 2020 election results, but lawsuit The case has been on hold since June to assess whether Mr. Willis should be disqualified. Undisclosed relationship with Special Counsel Nathan Wade.
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