Trump will be sentenced on the money laundering case on January 10

A judge has ruled that Donald Trump will be sentenced on January 10 in New York in a money laundering case – less than two weeks before he is due to be sworn in as president.

Judge Juan Mercant made it clear that he would sentence Trump to parole, in which the case is dismissed without jail time, fines or probation, and that the president-elect could appear in person or virtually for the hearing.

The case comes after Trump was convicted in May of 34 counts of falsifying commercial records in connection with a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Trump tried to use his victory in the presidential election to drop the case against him.

The conviction was related to Trump’s attempt to hide compensation to his former lawyer Michael Cohen, who in 2016 paid the adult film star to remain silent about alleged sexual contacts with Trump.

The president-elect has denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty, arguing the case was an attempt to damage his 2024 presidential campaign.

In its latest motion against the case, Trump’s defense argued that the case would hang over him during his presidency and interfere with his ability to govern.

The judge was told there were several steps he could take to assuage Trump’s concerns that while he was president he was distracted by a criminal case that did not take the “last resort” of overturning a jury verdict.

Judge Merchan weighed his options, which included delaying sentencing for Trump, 78, who will leave the White House in 2029, or guaranteeing a sentence that does not include prison time.

Trump initially argued unsuccessfully that the case against him ran afoul of the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity in his first motion to dismiss the case.

In July, the nation’s highest court ruled that presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution for “official acts” they perform while in office.

However, Judge Merchan ruled last month that Trump’s money laundering conviction was valid.

The sentence, handed down on January 10, will make him the first felon to serve in the White House.

The president-elect was originally scheduled to be sentenced on November 26, but Judge Merchan moved the date after Trump won the presidential election.

A spokesman for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment.