Judge Juan Merchan, who found the president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, guilty of irregular payments to former porn actress Stormy Daniels, will read the Republican’s sentence on the 10th, just ten days before his inauguration for his second term. presidential election, scheduled for the 20th.
Judge Juan Merchan rejected Donald Trump’s defense request to dismiss the case, presented in a letter dated December 4. The defense argued that the Supreme Court decision, which grants immunity to US presidents, should be extended to Trump or that, at least, his rights as an elected president should be equated to those of a sitting president for legal purposes.
Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement that Merchan’s order “in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office witch hunt is a direct violation of the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling and other long-standing case law.”
Cheung emphasized that “President Trump must be allowed to continue the presidential transition process and carry out the vital duties of the presidency without being obstructed by the remnants of this (affair) or any remnants of the witch hunt.”
“This lawless case should never have been presented and the Constitution requires that it be filed immediately”, he highlighted, adding that the Republican “will continue to fight these frauds until everyone dies”.
Merchan ordered Trump to appear “in person or virtually” on the 10th, at 9:30 am (local time, 11:30 am Brasília), to hear his sentence. The judge anticipated in this Friday’s decision that the sentence will not include a prison sentence.
“It seems opportune at this juncture to make known this Court’s inclination not to impose a prison sentence, a sentence authorized by his guilt, but which the Public Prosecutor’s Office no longer sees as a practical recommendation”, argues the judge in his considerations.
He also added that there are “concerns about the doctrine of presidential immunity”, referring to the defense’s main argument.