Today, Donald Trump was sentenced for his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records to interfere with the 2016 US presidential election.
Coverage: (CNN – Takeaways) (CNN – live blog) (CNN – audio of hearing) (MSNBC – audio of hearing) (USA Today – article and downloadble audio) (CBS – audio excerpts from hearing).
I listened to the USA Today audio (download), it was a little clearer than the audio file provided by the NY State Unified Court System (download). I am providing the USA Today audio download in a player at the end of this post.
Here are my notes of the hearing:
- Counsel introductions (People and Defense)
- Both sides are reviewing the probation report, neither side had anything to add to the record
- Clerk informed People and Defense that they could make statements before sentencing
- People/Josh Steinglass
- People recommend unconditional discharge
- Reviewed how Trump showed no remorse and threatened to retaliate against prosecutors in this case
- Jury reached a unanimous verdict
- Probation report says defendant sees himself as “above the law”
- Must be mindful of the office of the presidency
- Todd Blanche
- Disagrees with what the government just said
- Case should not have been brought
- We will seek an appeal
- Donald Trump
- Very terrible experience
- Political witch hunt
- Lots of complaints
- DOJ is very involved
- I won the election
- This is a weaponization of government
- I was treated very unfairly
- Juan Merchan
- Wishes to explain reasoning for sentencing decision
- A judge must decide what is correct sentence
- Court must consider the facts of the case and any other mitigating circumstances
- Extraordinary circumstances involved in this case
- One power that the presidency does not provide is the power to erase a jury verdict
- Pronounced sentence of unconditional discharge
Court Documents
- Decision on Motion to Stay (1/6/2025)
- People’s Filing (1/6/2025)
- Trump Response to Stay (1/6/2025)
- Clayton Decision (1/3/2025)