Trump’s fine is set for January 10

A judge on Friday denied a request to dismiss a New York criminal case against the president-elect Donald Trump and set Trump’s sentencing for Jan. 10 — less than two weeks before he is sworn in for a second term in the White House.

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Mercan also said in a written order that he was not inclined to sentence Trump to prison in the case and could issue a sentence of unconditional release. That doesn’t mean no probation or fines for the president-elect.

Merchan also said Trump has the option of appearing for his sentencing next week in person or virtually.

In his ruling, the judge rejected Trump’s lawyers’ arguments that presidents have presumptive immunity from criminal prosecution for their official acts while serving in the White House, and that the case should be dismissed based on the US Supreme Court’s ruling last summer based on the supremacy of the Constitution. Clause.

Trump’s lawyers also argued that the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office targeted him for political reasons and illegally leaked information related to the investigation.

At his trial in May, Trump was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with a $130,000 payment by his personal attorney, Michael Cohen, to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election.

“This Court holds that immunity from criminal prosecution for a sitting president does not extend to a president-elect,” Merchan wrote in his ruling Friday.

The judge also wrote: “However, this Court should not pass any order of law before giving the parties and the accused an opportunity to be heard. At this point it seems appropriate to state the Court’s inclination not to impose any custodial sentence, a judgment affirmed by the ruling, but people admit they no longer view it as a practical recommendation,” Merchan wrote Friday.

The judge also wrote that “a sentence of unconditional release appears to be the most appropriate solution to provide finality and allow the Defendant to pursue appellate options.”

“Deeply controversial in the Manhattan DA Witch Hunt, Attorney General Merch’s order today directly violates the Supreme Court’s immunity decision and other long-standing case law,” Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement.

“This illegal case should never have been filed and the Constitution requires it to be dismissed immediately,” Cheung said. “President Trump should be allowed to continue the Presidential Transition and carry out the vital duties of the presidency unhindered by this or the remnants of the Witch Hunts. There should be no convictions and President Trump will continue to fight these lies until they all die.”

This is the latest news. Update for updates.