Donald Trump, the President-elect of the United States, is set to be sentenced on Friday following his criminal conviction for involvement in hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
The case, which had earlier overshadowed his campaign to reclaim the White House, is expected to see him face judgment in a Manhattan state court at 9:30 a.m. ET (1430 GMT).
The U.S. Supreme Court has cleared the path for the sentencing, rejecting Trump’s last-minute request to halt the process just days before his inauguration on January 20.
While Justice Juan Merchan, who presided over the six-week trial, has indicated that Trump is unlikely to face jail time or a fine, the court is expected to place a judgment of guilt on his permanent record.
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Trump, 78, who pleaded not guilty, is expected to appear virtually for the hearing. He has long sought to avoid the public spectacle of a state-level conviction just days before taking office.
Legal experts, including Cheryl Bader, a law professor at Fordham University, believe Trump is reluctant to face sentencing due to the significance of the official judgment and the potential long-term impact on his criminal record.
The case marks the conclusion of the first-ever criminal trial against a sitting or former U.S. president. Trump was charged in March 2023 with 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment to Daniels in exchange for her silence about a sexual encounter she claimed to have had with Trump in 2006, which he denied. The Manhattan jury found Trump guilty on all 34 counts in May.
While critics argue the case highlights Trump’s unfitness for public office, the trial unfolded alongside his successful campaign to retake the White House. Trump has continuously dismissed the charges, claiming they are part of a broader effort to weaponize the justice system against him.
Despite the less severe nature of the hush money case compared to other criminal charges, including those related to attempting to overturn the 2020 election and retaining classified documents after leaving office, this case remains significant as it is the first one to go to trial.
Trump’s lawyers have signaled their intent to appeal the case, with Trump remaining confident of a favorable outcome. The hush money case has become a political battleground, with Trump’s campaign contributions surging after his indictment, although polling suggests the charges have eroded his support among some voters.
As Trump prepares for sentencing, the political and legal ramifications of this case continue to unfold, setting the stage for further challenges as he navigates his return to public office.
