Donald Trump, 78, is set to be sentenced Friday for his conviction in the hush money case involving adult film star Stormy Daniels. The U.S. Supreme Court denied Trump’s last-minute bid to halt the sentencing, clearing the way for the 9:30 a.m. ET hearing in Manhattan.
Justice Juan Merchan, who oversaw the trial, indicated he would not impose jail time or fines but plans to issue an unconditional discharge, leaving a conviction on Trump’s record. Trump, who pleaded not guilty, is expected to appear virtually.
The case marks the first criminal conviction of a U.S. president. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged Trump with falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment by Michael Cohen to Daniels before the 2016 election. Trump denied the affair and called the trial a politically motivated attack.
Despite his legal troubles, Trump won the 2024 presidential election, arguing his indictments were efforts to undermine his campaign. His victory limited the impact of federal cases against him, as Justice Department policy bars prosecuting sitting presidents.
The Manhattan jury convicted Trump on 34 counts in May 2023. Trump repeatedly defied court orders during the trial, leading to a $10,000 fine. Merchan criticized his disrespect for the judiciary, stating overturning the verdict would harm the rule of law.
The sentencing follows months of delays and comes days before Trump’s January 20 inauguration. Falsifying business records carries up to four years in prison, but legal experts expect no jail time due to his age, clean record, and pending presidency. Trump vowed to appeal.
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