President-elect Donald Trump’s sentencing in the hush money case has been scheduled for January 10, just days before his inauguration. Federal Judge Juan Merchan announced the decision but indicated that Trump is unlikely to face incarceration, stating the court’s inclination to impose an “unconditional discharge.”
Trump was convicted by a Manhattan jury on 34 counts of falsifying business records. The charges stemmed from his classification of hush money payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign as legal expenses. These payments were made to silence allegations from an adult film actress.
In his ruling, Judge Merchan emphasized that while sentencing deliberations remain pending, incarceration is not viewed as a practicable outcome. The judge acknowledged the unique circumstances surrounding Trump’s election despite the charges, writing, “It seems proper at this juncture to make known the Court’s inclination to not impose any sentence of incarceration, a sentence authorized by the conviction but one the People concede they no longer view as a practicable recommendation.”
The decision follows a U.S. Supreme Court ruling affirming that presidents hold immunity for official actions taken while in office. However, Judge Merchan clarified that the charges against Trump relate to unofficial conduct, excluding them from immunity protections.
Trump’s legal team has not announced plans to appeal the conviction but has criticized the legal proceedings as politically motivated. With the January 10 sentencing date, the case concludes in close proximity to Trump’s anticipated return to the White House, marking a rare intersection of legal and political events in U.S. history.
