New York judge sets Trump hush money sentencing for Jan. 10

WASHINGTON/ISTANBUL (AA) – President-elect Donald Trump will be sentenced next week after being found guilty of improperly concealing a hush money payment to an adult film actor, a New York state judge ruled Friday.

Justice Juan Merchan denied a bid from Trump’s defense team to overturn the conviction, and set sentencing for Jan. 10, just 10 days before Trump is set to be sworn in for his second term. He indicated, however, that he would not be imposing any prison term.

“This Court must sentence Defendant within a reasonable time following verdict; and Defendant must be permitted to avail himself of every available appeal, a path he has made clear he intends to pursue but which only becomes fully available upon sentencing,” Merchan wrote in his 18-page order.

“While this Court as a matter of law must not make any determination on sentencing prior to giving the parties and Defendant an opportunity to be heard, 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,” Merchan added.

Trump can appear in person or virtually, according to his order.

Trump’s spokesman Steven Cheung called the case “lawless,” asserting it should never have been brought and must be dismissed immediately, the Hill reported.

“Today’s order by the deeply conflicted, Acting Justice Merchan in the Manhattan DA Witch Hunt is a direct violation of the Supreme Court’s Immunity decision and other longstanding jurisprudence,” Cheung said in a statement.

Stating that Trump “must be allowed to continue the Presidential Transition process and to execute the vital duties of the presidency, unobstructed by the remains of this or any remnants of the Witch Hunts,” he argued that sentencing should not move forward.

Trump became the first former president to be convicted of a crime in May when a jury unanimously convicted him of 34 counts of falsifying business records. The charges are related to a $130,000 hush money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels with the intent of influencing the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.

The payment was made by Trump’s one-time attorney Michael Cohen in the days leading up to the election. Trump later paid Cohen back, and prosecutors said the payment was concealed as legal expenses. Trump has denied any wrongdoing.

Trump is to be sworn in for his second term in office Jan. 20 after defeating Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in last year’s presidential election.