Trump Faces Local Judge in Hush Money Case After Supreme Court Ruling
President-elect Donald Trump will appear before a local judge this Friday in connection with the hush money case, following the Supreme Court’s rejection of his emergency appeal to halt the criminal proceedings. A divided court ruled Thursday evening that the sentencing would not interfere with Trump’s responsibilities, stating that its impact on his duties “is relatively insubstantial” and allowing the proceedings to move forward.
Judge’s Ruling and Potential Outcome
Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the case, has indicated that he will likely refrain from imposing a prison sentence on Trump. The former president was found guilty by a jury of business fraud for listing a payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels as legal expenses. In addition to the verdict, Judge Merchan has allowed Trump to appear remotely for the sentencing. He also stated that Trump would receive a “conditional discharge,” which would result in no penalty beyond being branded as a convicted criminal.
While Merchan has suggested that Trump will not face jail time, the case remains a significant moment in the lead-up to Trump’s inauguration. The sentencing will occur just 10 days before Trump takes office, making it a potential final blow to his political image.
Background of the Case
The charges stem from a $130,000 payment made by Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to Stormy Daniels in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election. Daniels had claimed an affair with Trump, and the payment was made in exchange for her silence. Trump later reimbursed Cohen for the payment, but prosecutors argued that listing the payment as legal expenses amounted to criminal fraud. The jury found the prosecution’s case persuasive, leading to Trump’s conviction.
Trump, however, denied Daniels’ allegations and claimed that the payment was made to protect his family from public embarrassment, not to influence the election.
Legal Reactions and Political Context
Local prosecutor Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, escalated the charges by turning each of the checks written by Trump into separate criminal offenses, bringing the total to 34 charges.
The Supreme Court ruling, which allowed the case to continue, came after Trump’s legal team filed an emergency appeal. In a 5-4 decision, the majority of the justices—three liberal justices, Chief Justice John Roberts, and Trump appointee Amy Coney Barrett—decided that the sentencing could proceed. The ruling was met with strong opposition from Trump’s legal team, particularly regarding Judge Merchan, who Trump has previously criticized.
Trump took to Truth Social to express his frustration, calling the judge a “highly political and corrupt judge” and claiming that the justice system had been weaponized against him. He also expressed appreciation for the Supreme Court’s efforts to address what he described as a “great injustice” against him.
Political Fallout and the Case’s Impact
Vice President Kamala Harris and her supporters had attempted to leverage Trump’s conviction to highlight it in their campaign, but the voters largely ignored the issue, re-electing Trump and rejecting Harris. The sentencing is seen as a final opportunity to humiliate Trump before he assumes office.
The case also sparked controversy regarding Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, who was part of the minority ruling in favor of Trump. Alito was reported to have spoken to Trump on Tuesday, leading to speculation about possible conflicts of interest. Alito, however, denied discussing the case, stating that their conversation was related to a job reference for a former law clerk.
