BREAKING: Justice Juan Merchan has DENIED Donald Trump’s motion to dismiss his hush-money indictment and vacate the guilty verdict and ordered him to appear for sentencing next Friday at 9:30 a.m. virtually or in person.
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83 million hours of community service, sentence not suspended. And, no, the hours being president don't count. Can be served anytime Mr. Trump would have been golfing and after 2028.
I'm curious to know how many convictions in US law are required to put someone behind bars...? Because at this point it seems like loads! Most places it's just crime->jail... you guys seem to have a weird flow chart thing going on
The sentence Merchan listed was "unconditional discharge". This is a final judgment that maintains the conviction of a felony, but waves any form of punishment.
He can think about what's coming as he sits at Jimmy Carter's funeral the day before. I'm guessing he'll be seated with the Clintons, Obamas, Bidens and Kamala Harris and her husband. Imagine the chit-chat there.
Merchan: " ... it seems proper at this juncture to make known the Court's inclination to not impose any sentence of incarceration, a sentence authorized by the conviction but one the People concede they no longer view as a practicable recommendation."
"...in balancing the aforementioned considerations in conjunction with the underlying concerns of the Presidential immunity doctrine, a sentence of an unconditional discharge appears to be the most viable solution to ensure finality and allow Defendant to pursue his appellate options."
"It was the premediated and continuous deception by the leader of the free world that is the gravamen of this offense," Merchan wrote, adding that vacating the verdict based on Trump's positions would "cause immeasurable damage to the citizenry's confidence in the Rule of Law."
I was asking for information here. I've seen enough cynical commentary, thanks.
What does a sentence of unconditional discharge actually mean? Does it ever carry any consequence or penalty? It sounds as though it's just refusing to pass a sentence in a case where the defendant is guilty?
Unconditional discharge is the end of it. It is a final judgment, which maintains felony conviction, but waves any other form of punishment. No jail cell.
The judge has already announced that this is his decision, maintaining the felony convictions, but respecting the doctrine of presidential immunity. It sucks.
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Statement from Trump spokesman Steven Cheung:
Little pink houses for you and me (on backorder)
What does a sentence of unconditional discharge actually mean? Does it ever carry any consequence or penalty? It sounds as though it's just refusing to pass a sentence in a case where the defendant is guilty?
Gdammit