Trump To Undergo Virtual Probation Interview Ahead Of Sentencing In Hush-Money Case
This is part of the sentencing process for his felony conviction in the New York hush-money case.
Donald Trump, the first former US president to be criminally convicted, will participate in a virtual interview with a probation officer from his Florida home on Monday
This is part of the sentencing process for his felony conviction in the New York hush-money case.
Trump will appear alongside his lawyer, Todd Blanche, according to a source who informed CBS News, BBC‘s US partner
A New York City probation officer will use the interview to prepare a pre-sentencing report for Justice Juan Merchan, who is determining the appropriate punishment for Trump.
Last month, Trump was convicted 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 uncommon.
“It is highly unusual for a pre-sentence investigation interview to be done over Zoom,” he stated. However, Horn acknowledged that Trump’s physical presence in the Manhattan courthouse would significantly disrupt court proceedings due to the necessary security measures and media attention.
Convicts in the New York Court system typically do not have their lawyers present for probation interviews, according to the Associated Press. Nevertheless, Judge Merchan has permitted Mr Blanche to join Trump for the session on Monday.
Pre-sentencing reports, which detail a convict’s personal history, criminal record, financial situation, health, and living conditions, assist the judge in determining the sentence. These interviews also offer convicts a chance to plead for a more lenient sentence.
A Manhattan Court had set the sentencing hearing for July 11 in Trump’s ‘hush money’ case after the former president was found guilty by the jury on multiple counts.
The jury found the former president guilty on all 34 counts.
The 34 counts stemmed from 11 invoices, 12 vouchers and 11 checks that make up Trump’s monthly reimbursement payments to Michael Cohen who fronted the $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
The 12-person jury considered whether Trump was guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records, which were all connected to the alleged cover-up of hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
The former president pleaded not guilty to the charges in the case and denied the affair with Daniels.
At the heart of this case is a payment made days before Trump was elected president in 2016.
His attorney at the time, Michael Cohen, paid $130,000 to adult film star Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, in exchange for her silence about an alleged affair. Trump has denied the allegation