Donald Trump will be first felon to sit as US President after sentencing given go ahead
After repeated delays, ITV News US Correspondent Dan Rivers reports from New York City ahead of Donald Trump's 'hush money' sentencing
The United State Supreme Court has declined to stop the final act in the first ever criminal trial of a President of the United States.
The decision formalises Trump's status as the first felon to occupy the White House when he returns to office on January 20, after he was found guilty in last year's "hush money" cover up trial.
The nation's highest court yesterday ruled five to four that the sentencing hearing for Donald Trump's falsifying business records conviction shall proceed this morning in Manhattan.
In an unsuccessful last-minute scramble, Trump's attorneys argued the hearing should be cancelled, because a sitting President's immunity from criminal prosecution while in office extends to a President-elect, and the sentencing process would interfere with his preparation to be sworn in as the 47th president in 10 days time.
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In their Supreme Court application, they argued: "The President-elect's complete engagement and undivided attention to this process are critical for national security."
More broadly, Trump argued the guilty verdict should be overturned, because some trial testimony and evidence of his official acts as president had violated the presidential immunity that the court established last year.
The Supreme Court order, however, will allow the unanimous jury verdict convicting Trump of 34 felonies last May to stand for now, and did not address the merits of the immunity argument.
In today's hearing, Trump could receive a maximum sentence of up to four years of imprisonment. However, his age, 78, and the felonies being his first criminal offense were always mitigating factors.
Judge Merchan has also indicated that he would sentence Trump to an “unconditional discharge” – no incarceration, home confinement, probation, or fines – and would allow Trump to attend the one-hour hearing remotely by video hookup rather than in person.
Sentencing, originally scheduled for July, was initially delayed - in part so the now President-elect could focus on the presidential campaign and his election victory.
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