Newly elected US President Donald Trump has suffered a setback in the trial over the payment of hush money to porn actress Stormy Daniels: the judge responsible, Juan Merchan, has rejected Trump’s request to postpone the announcement of the verdict.
The verdict should be announced on January 10 as planned, Merchan announced on Monday. Trump’s request is mainly “a repetition of the arguments he has made several times in the past”, according to Merchan, who justifies this step. This means that the verdict will be published before Trump is sworn in as president on January 20. Two of Trump’s lawyers had asked Merchan for a delay.
Guilty on 34 counts
A jury found Trump guilty in May of 34 charges of falsifying business documents before the 2016 election. The case involves a payment of $130,000 (124,688.28 euros) to porn star Stormy Daniels. This was intended to prevent her from publicly reporting an alleged affair with Trump that she said she had with him. Trump denies Daniel’s statements and describes himself as innocent.
For the first time, a convicted criminal becomes president of the US
It is the first time that a former or current American president has been convicted as a criminal. In this case, there would actually be a prison sentence. However, Judge Merchan has indicated that he has no plans to send Trump to prison. A conviction without jail time, fines or probation is “the most practical solution” given Trump’s upcoming inauguration, he said last week.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
