Thursday, November 7, 2024

Manhattan Judge to Decide Fate of Trump’s Felony Conviction Next Week

 

The Manhattan judge overseeing Donald Trump’s hush-money criminal trial is expected to announce next week whether the former president-elect’s historic felony conviction will stand. Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan had previously delayed sentencing for more than four months, pushing the decision until after the election. He has now set a deadline for Tuesday to determine whether the conviction should be dismissed.

Trump’s decisive election win is expected to further bolster his legal team’s arguments against sentencing. Legal experts, including CNN’s chief legal affairs correspondent Paula Reid, predict that Trump’s defense will urge the judge to avoid sentencing, citing his new status as president-elect. "They will argue that Trump, as president-elect, is entitled to the same constitutional protections as a sitting president, which should shield him from state prosecutors and legal consequences," Reid explained on November 6.

Trump, 78, was convicted on 34 counts of felony falsifying business records related to payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election campaign. The charges stem from efforts to cover up the payments to influence the election. Trump could face up to four years in prison, though many legal experts suggest that it’s unlikely he will serve jail time.

Former prosecutor Neama Rahmani commented on the situation, stating that Justice Merchan may be reluctant to imprison a former president or president-elect. “Now that Trump has won, his criminal problems may vanish,” Rahmani said, suggesting that the legal battle may come to an end if the conviction is ultimately thrown out.

As the decision looms, all eyes will be on the Manhattan courtroom to see whether Trump’s legal troubles are resolved or if the conviction remains intact.

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