Sentencing for US President Donald Trump’s hush-money conviction has been set for January 10, according to court documents released in New York on Friday.
Juan Merchan, the New York judge who oversaw the trial, had previously postponed sentencing indefinitely.
Trump was found guilty last May of illegally concealing $130,000 in hush money payments to a porn actress to boost his chances of success in the 2016 presidential election.
Trump’s defense team has sought to overturn his conviction.
The prosecutor rejected that, but had indicated a willingness to postpone the sentencing until after Trump’s second term as US president in 2029.
Trump will be sworn in as president of the United States on January 20 in Washington.
Trump can appear in person or virtually
Trump could appear at the court hearing in person or virtually, according to a court document; stating: “This Court will permit Defendant to exercise his right to appear virtually for these proceedings, if he so desires.”
In his decision to dismiss Trump’s attempt to have the charges dismissed and the jury’s verdict vacated, the judge also wrote that he is not inclined to impose a prison sentence – which was not considered very likely.
The US president-elect had failed in an earlier attempt to overturn the verdict against him in New York for concealing hush money payments.
Judge Merchan, presiding over the case, confirmed the conviction.
The sentencing was postponed
The verdict should have been pronounced in mid-September.
However, Judge Merchan granted a request from Trump to postpone sentencing until after the US presidential election in early November.
This is the first time in US history that a president-elect has faced a conviction.
