Watching along on CNN. Speculation is that Trump will get an unconditional discharge, but that’s only speculation.
Is there a penicillin known that can treat that?
Prosecutors are speaking. Steinglass is noting that Trump has expressed no remorse. “Unrelenting in his unsubstantiated remarks against the court; Trump’s conduct is a direct attack on the rule of law.” Hinting that Trump has caused damage to the public perception of the criminal justice system. Probation report indicates that Trump thought he was above the law.
Trump’s lawyers speaking now. Now Trump speaking. No idea what he is saying; we will have audio later.
Just reporting secondhand, Trump says, “Terrible experience, setback for the NY court system. A case that Bragg didn’t want to bring. ‘Lawfare.’” Implying that justice had been weaponized against him.
Merchan: The office of the presidency requires deference, not the occupant of that office. Nobody has the power to erase a jury verdict.
Sentence: Unconditional discharge.
I would have imposed a prison sentence, given the nature of defendant’s misconduct, its impact on a national election and his ongoing and defiant lack of remorse, but stayed its imposition until Trump leaves office. Have that hanging over his head for the next four years.
Bringing down the jurisprudential HAMMER!!
/s
Well, at least the judge made it abundantly clear to Trump that he is a convicted felon, and that a sentence of “unconditional discharge” does not change that.
Good luck going golfing in Scotland now, Donnie. AFAIK, the UK does not admit convicted felons for pleasure trips.
Um. Well, it’s eleven-something in the morning, so you could do worse than guess that I’m “at the bar.”
“Unconditional Discharge”
It’s the perfect name for him.
How about “ineligible to vote” as a descriptor?
Though I feel the same, I’m convinced by many reputable commentators that such a decision by Merchan would have virtually guaranteed that the conviction would be overturned, if not by the appeals courts, then by SCOTUS. The basis would have been that a President (at least a Republican one) is unduly burdened by knowing that a sentence would be carried out after he leaves office.
It might not be a good argument but it’s one that the current SCOTUS would certainly have embraced.
And that would have removed Trump’s “felon” status completely.
So in the circumstances, I believe that Merchan’s decision was the most justice we could possibly get (disappointing and demoralizing as that is).
Some people are also saying that this probably happened because the top brass of the LAFD are all lesbians. They’re all women; how these commentators would know they’re lesbians is another story.
L.A. mayor Karen Bass had that trip to Ghana planned long before the fire, and her presence wouldn’t have made a bit of difference.
I saw that Michelle Obama wasn’t there. This link says she was in Hawaii, but I’m guessing that she didn’t want to be anywhere near the Dumpster.
Just a few months ago he was basically threatening her in public.
I don’t blame her.
Side comment, that was weird article. It starts out relatively normal and then starts a random Q and A Michelle Obama that get less and less relevant to the article finally asking what her age is. I’m guessing it was written by AI.
My understanding is that this does not render him unable to vote.
You’re correct, not in his state of residence. Which is ironic, because IIRC, the State of Florida did attempt to make voting illegal by convicted felons.
Felons were unable to vote after release unless they went through a ridiculously arbitrary review process. Then Florida had a referendum to reinstate the franchise to non-violent felons,
Whereupon the GOP did everything within their legal power to put obstacles in their way.
But Florida also says that if the state you’re convicted in wouldn’t normally take away your right to vote (as New York doesn’t in this instance), you can still vote in Florida.
Thanks for that clarification. Somehow my brain had a notion that Florida tried to stop all convicted felons from voting, which based on the information in your post, they sort of did. That’s as far as my thinking got!