Trump to Participate in Virtual Sentencing Interview Today
By Boniface Ihiasota, USA
Donald Trump will participate in a virtual interview with a probation officer from his home in Florida on Monday. This interview is part of the sentencing process following his felony conviction in the New York hush-money case, Excel Magazine International can report.
As the first former US president to be criminally convicted, Trump will appear from Mar-a-Lago alongside his lawyer Todd Blanche.
A New York City probation officer will use this interview to prepare a pre-sentencing report for Justice Juan Merchan, who will determine Trump’s punishment.
Trump was convicted last month of 34 counts of falsifying business records and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11.
Martin Horn, a former commissioner for the New York City Department of Correction and Probation, told NBC News that virtual probation interviews are highly unusual.
He noted that any in-person visit by Trump to the courthouse in Manhattan would be disruptive due to the presence of the Secret Service and media, potentially causing issues for other court proceedings.
Typically, convicts in the New York court system do not have their lawyers present for probation interviews, according to the Associated Press. However, Judge Merchan has allowed Mr. Blanche to accompany Trump on Monday.
Pre-sentencing reports include information about a convict’s personal life, criminal history, financial means, health condition, and living arrangements. These reports assist the judge in determining an appropriate sentence. The interview offers the convict an opportunity to argue for a lenient sentence.
Jurors found Trump guilty of falsifying business records to hide hush money payments made to former porn star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Although most legal commentators believe Trump is unlikely to face jail time due to his lack of criminal history and age.
Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has repeatedly claimed without evidence that the prosecution in New York is politically motivated, aiming to prevent him from retaking the White House in November’s election.
He has also announced plans to appeal the conviction.
