Donald Trump completed his mandatory interview prior to sentencing. Judge Merchan, who presided over the proceedings, will be the one to issue his sentence on July 11. America’s News Desk says:
A source familiar with the proceedings has now reported that former President Trump completed his mandatory pre-sentencing interview with a probation officer in New York City on Monday, following his conviction in the hush-money trial late last month.
The routine interview, which is mandated by law, will assist Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over Trump’s initial criminal case, in determining the appropriate punishment for the former president upon his sentencing.
The sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 11, which is only four days prior to the 2024 Republican National Convention, during which Trump is anticipated to be announced as the official Republican presidential nominee.
The source reported that the virtual interview was “uneventful” and lasted less than thirty minutes. It was finalized by the former president from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
The video conference meeting was attended by the New York City Department of Probation Commissioner, Juanita Holmes, as well as the department’s counsel and the officer responsible for the former president’s case.
Todd Blanche, the primary attorney for Trump in the Manhattan criminal case, was also in attendance.
Typically, defendants are inquired about their convictions and certain aspects of their background during these meetings; however, they are not obligated to participate.
Merchan, who has the authority to sentence the presumptive GOP nominee to up to four years per felony count, may interpret the absence of participation as a negative.
Prosecutors and the defense team have the ability to submit letters that contain suggestions regarding the appropriate sentence for Trump.
Late last month, Trump became the first former president to be convicted of felony charges.
He was found guilty of all 34 counts by a New York jury for falsifying business documents with respect to a payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election in order to conceal an alleged past affair, which he denied.
Merchan’s decision could have large ramifications. If he is remanded and imprisoned, he would miss the debate but create a huge firestorm against Democrats’ use of state power against its opponents. A light or suspended sentence would likely upset Liberals, but not drive support towards Biden.
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