Supreme Court Rules Against Trump, Conviction Ahead of Inauguration Confirmed
The Supreme Court of the United States has dismissed former President Donald Trump's attempt to postpone his conviction related to payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The court has scheduled the ruling for Friday, January 10, which is expected to be announced in the afternoon Italian time. Trump's legal team contended that a conviction so close to his inauguration would pose a threat to national security. Nevertheless, Trump is set to take the oath of office for his second term as President of the United States on January 20.
The New York judge overseeing the case has already indicated that sentencing will not include prison time, probation, or a monetary fine. Alternative penalties, such as community service, remain possible. This played a significant role in the Supreme Court's decision that Trump's conviction wouldn't impede his inauguration. The ruling was notably close, with a margin of just one vote: 5 justices in favor and 4 against.
Trump faces serious charges stemming from the falsification of campaign finance records during the 2016 election, aiming to conceal payments made to Daniels to silence her regarding a secret relationship from a decade earlier. In May 2024, a jury found Trump guilty on all 34 counts against him. In the American legal system, a verdict of guilt is established first, followed by a subsequent hearing for sentencing. Trump's official sentencing is yet to be determined.
This trial is one of four criminal proceedings involving Trump. It remains the only case in which he has been found guilty. The other three cases involve accusations of inciting an assault on Congress on January 6, 2021, attempts to overturn the results of the election he lost to Joe Biden, and the mishandling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. The first two cases have been dismissed, while the prosecutor in the third case has been removed, complicating the legal landscape further for Trump as he prepares for his second term.
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