My sympathies to whomever ends up being tasked with this duty as it doesn’t sound like it will be an easy day trying to get Trump to actually answer questions with anything other than his usual ranting. However, I’d assume the people who do these interviews have seen many petulant criminals who rant and rave so I’ll defer to their professionalism in the face of adversity.
The possibility now occurs to me of Trump refusing to cooperate with the pre-sentencing interview. Which would lead to the worst possible outcome, but would be perfectly in character for the blustering buffoon. Or agreeing to it, but making an obnoxious ass of himself.
Does the 5th Amendment still apply to incidents you’ve already been convicted on?
Alas, reality will NEVER set in for trumpie. He does not inhabit the same reality as the rest of us. But I’m sure a bunch of stuff will wash over his face.
i switched over to msnbc. katy tur mentioned that he is giving the rant at the scene of the crime. the meeting that lead to the whole thing happened about 20 floors up from where he stood.
he did not ride the escalator, he does have more supporters outside the building than usual. this time unlike when he first spoke at the tower, he did not have to pay for people to be there.
ms tur, said that he is more weary than he usually is. the only family with him today are eric and lara. he did not have any political supporters with him. just trump tower employees.
Re: the pre-sentencing interview. Will he have counsel present?
It’s a chance to make a good impression in an attempt to reduce the sentence. He can let out a prolonged fart if he wishes. And yes counsel will undoubtedly be present.
Presentence Investigation Report: How to Prepare - Prison Professors
i found this very fascinating article. yes, he can have his lawyer or lawyers present.
this article outlines federal procedures, i reckon on nyc not being that much different.
ooh, andrea mitchell just mentioned that there will be a nato event in dc around the same time as the sentencing. this means world leaders from nato will be in dc, while trump is sentenced.
Sidebar
A few words before this virtual courtroom gallery disbands… thanks to you all for the opportunity to share this event virtually. No one IRL around me was following the last few weeks of the trial as closely as this group. Extra kudos to @rocking_chair as others have said over and over. I always felt so completely informed and up-to-date on the proceedings. Many thanks to all the legal eagles who shared their knowledge and experience. Great discussion, good questions, insightful observations, and and topical humor. Ya know-- blood, sweat, and tears all around. I wish we could meet at the virtual pub across the virtual street for the virtual stirrup cup. 
I have a little of that feeling that you get at the end of the semester when a really great class breaks up and your temporary mates and colleagues move on. I know it’s not over until the Fat Guy sings, but just wanted to get those comments in.
Carry on, Doper friends. 
/Sidebar
Would secret service be in the room for the presentence hearing? Would that decision be up to Trump or the state?
I was waiting for Trump to speak, looking at his empty podium as the media was hovering with bated breath. I was curious as to what he would say or if it would just be the same old shit. I tuned out after about a minute and a half. I couldn’t take it.
I’ve been the lawyer who has sat with clients at federal presentence interviews.
And, yes, they are enlightening. I usually expressed to the client that it was a chance to help themselves, and tried to convince them to open up about the horrible things they’ve had to endure (because it is invariably true that a hardened criminal - my federal clients usually were running guns or drugs - grew up facing serious abuse or neglect. Or just poverty. One in particular that sticks with me was a meth dealer who grew up virtually deaf in one ear. He always struggled in school until he dropped out to support his siblings. If he had come from a wealthier background, he’d have gotten a hearing aid, some tutors, and would never have been faced with the need to feed kids when he was still a teenager. Drug sales were just him doing what I got to do to survive)
But, more generally, it was a rundown of their life history with the probation officer. They’d ask about where they were born and grew up, their home life, their education, and work history.
They’d also inquire about sources of money and income (for the purposes of paying fines), and also housing and job prospects (for the purposes of considering supervised release).
In theory, Trump would be well served by telling then how rough his dad was on him, and how lonely and scared he felt when he was sent to a military boarding school, but that shit’s for losers, right?!
And he would certainly be well served by expressing remorse, acknowledging that what he did was wrong, and being sure that he won’t do it again.
But, what is this, loserville?!
Not as well though, right? Tubby, like little, is trochaic, but rotund is iambic. (Hey, this subthread started with “gobemouche”, so I feel like we’re licensed to be arcane.)
Very interesting read, thank you. I particularly liked the bit about some recently convicted felons being in a state of denial because they had entertained fantasies of being acquitted. Kinda reminds me of someone!
Don, Jr? I need 2,500 words on the cumulative traumas of your life. Stat!
-Mythical DJT
ETA: Just watched JD Vance interviewed by Wolf (CNN) Blitzer.
MAGA … having both gotten a law degree from Yale Law and freebased crack cocaine.
Wow.
Pre-sentence interviews are important. Just ask poor Ralph Agee.
From Trump’s press conference, as quoted by Rocking_chair:
Literally? Damn.
“Well, my 757 was broken for a while and I had to use one of my smaller jets.”
It occurs to me as well that any other felon who went into an interview claiming that the current President of the United States was personally out to get them would be regarded as having some mental health challenges. Trump is going to have to face someone who is going to be taking an honest look at his mental state and who has no obligation to be nice to him about it.
[nodding seriously] “And this ‘Hannibal Lecter’ - is he in the room with us right now?”
They don’t always hold up well on cross.