I was hoping for a suspended sentence that would hang over Trump’s head until he left office. I guess that won’t happen but I am hoping that Trump’s mobbed up lawyers will be disbarred for the bullshit they presented in Merchan’s Court. That would disqualify Blanch and Sauer from serving in the DoJ.
Judge Merchan knows that the stigma of a criminal felony conviction will drive Trump batshit crazy and that may be enough, because Trump’s chances of surviving a second term, (whether cardiac failure, stroke, or Luigi’s brother Mario taking his chances), are less than 50% so Trump won’t be around to do a suspended term anyway.
I think this would feel less like a mockery if he had been forced to stand there in front of the bench like any other perp while the judge read to him his non sentencing.
Who knows, perhaps Merchan is going to rip him a new one and read off a riot act?
He probably was never going to get jail time, given his age and lack of prior convictions. What matters is that, unless Trump is successful on appeal (unlikely), he is confirmed as a felon. Also, if you read or watch more coverage of this story: Merchan reprimands both Trump and his lawyers sharply and very effectively.
That is annoying. I’d add that I’ve had a lot of trouble at this site today. When I hit my back arrow to go back to the home page, suddenly I was treated as if I was not a prime member and had to provide my password and email address. Other times, the site did not respond when I hit the reply button that would enable me to read other people’s replies to a comment. Very odd. I’d have to open a new window and start all over again.
TCF and his MAGA cult can claim all they want that they are being singled out however business fraud cases are regularly prosecuted in New York. Yes they even strip businesses of their licenses. Every week I get the list of restaurant closures by the department of health. Thankfully the number of them have decreased over the years because most clean up their facilities and comply. After all they do want to stay in business. But the ones that don’t are shuttered by the authorities.
This is the right take. I had read that until the jury’s verdict was accepted by the court it would not be technically accurate to say that he’s a “convicted” felon, just that he was found guilty. He will now go down in history as the first convicted felon to take the oval office.
Without jail time …I do not like saying this… it looks like Merchan wimped out. Was he afraid of donald? Is donnie a naughty boy judge? Will ya send him to his room or make him stand in the corner with a dunce cap on his head?
To @txlawyer
Is it not the judge who passes sentence? Are there not guidelines for the lightest of felonies? 4 years max I read for this type of felony … but 34 separate felonies compounded?? And donnie gets a stern lecture and sent home to dinner … remotely??
This is not justice.
I’m not looking up the NY sentencing statute again, but these are Class D nonviolent felonies and trump has no prior criminal convictions. Max. sentence would be 1 year, and he would not be required to serve the sentences consecutively.
Most people in his position would be sentenced to probation. But donnie dipshit behaved so badly throughout the case that I am fairly confident Judge Merchan would have sentenced him to something like 3-4 months in prison.
$400,000?
Problem is he would not miss it.
I was hoping for a big bucket of comeuppance. Across his life trump has basically skated every time he has faced justice. There is the huge fine in a state case. I am not up to speed on what was a near half billion fine. That got his attention. Shoved in a jail cell would as well.
Exactly what I’d hoped for months ago. Now it is too late. Donnie could’ve been sentenced in September even and let loose on Jan10th. Gives him time to pack his stuff for life in DC.
