Trump slams ‘corrupt’ judge after he is ordered to appear for sentencing in hush-money case: Live updates
Justice Juan Merchan rejected president-elect’s push to dismiss verdict on grounds of presidential immunity, finding no legal impediment to proceeding
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump has slammed Judge Juan Merchan on Truth Social after he required the president-elect to appear for sentencing in his hush-money case on January 10, just ten days before his inauguration.
“I never falsified business records,” Trump wrote on Saturday morning. “It is a fake, made up charge by a corrupt judge who is just doing the work of the Biden/Harris Injustice Department, an attack on their political opponent, ME!”
A jury of 12 New Yorkers found Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records after a six-week-long trial in May.
Merchan indicated Trump wouldn’t be jailed, but the extraordinary development puts the president-elect on course to be the first president to take office convicted of felonies.
Merchan indicated on Friday Trump wouldn’t be jailed at his sentencing, instead noting he’ll impose “a sentence of unconditional discharge.” This means no jail time, probation or fines will be imposed on the president-elect.
Following the order, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung issued a statement claiming that “the Constitution demands” that the case be “immediately dismissed.” He said the president-elect must be allowed to continue his presidential transition “unobstructed by the remains of this or any remnants of the Witch Hunts.”
Trump jokes about fat coyotes needing weight-loss drugs in call with Starmer
Trump has two years to cause real chaos and harm and only these people will be able to stop him
Trump claims Dems are ‘giddy’ flags will be half-staff for his inauguration
Apple CEO Tim Cook plans to donate $1 million to Trump’s inauguration: report
US Steel CEO says Biden decision on acquisition ‘shameful and corrupt'
Here’s our report on the president’s decision:
Biden blocks Japanese takeover of U.S. Steel on national security grounds
Biden says the Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel ‘will remain a proud American company — one that’s American-owned, American-operated, by American union steelworkers’
Inauguration Day looms: Here are the promises Trump made for ‘Day One’ in office
President-elect Donald Trump has a very long to-do list when he steps into the Oval Office later this month.
So far, he’s already promised to take action on 59 different issues “on Day One,” according to an Axios analysis of pledges made on the campaign trail.
The key MAGA issues he promised to address are closing the border, pardoning the January 6 Capitol riot prisoners, and rolling back protections for transgender students.
The Independent has contacted Trump’s team seeking clarity on the issues he will tackle first.
Here are some of the promises the president-elect made.
Inauguration Day is nearly here. These are the promises Trump made for ‘Day One’
Trump promised to take action on 59 different issues ‘on day one,’ according to analysis of pledges made on the campaign trail
Trump rages about Jan 6 committee and Pelosi
Donald Trump appears furious that President Joe Biden awarded Liz Cheney a medal on Thursday for her service in putting country before party by investigating the events of the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Here’s what the president-elect wrote on Truth Social:
Biden gave Liz Cheney a Medal yesterday, even though she has proven to be totally corrupt. She, “Bennie” Thompson, and the rest of the Unselect Committee, destroyed and deleted all evidence from their crooked investigation of January 6th. Cheney has the distinction of losing her Congressional seat by the largest margin in History! The people of Wyoming understood how bad for our Country she was, but Biden rewarded her only because she hated “TRUMP.” She’s a Warmonger of low intelligence. All she wants to do is kill people in “Endless Wars,” with no gain other than to defense companies. Liz Cheney, Cryin’ Adam Kinzinger, Bennie Thompson, and the rest of these dishonest Thugs have gotten away with horrible things under the pretense of January 6th. Nancy Pelosi refused to accept the help which was offered for security. She is responsible, and admitted as much, for all to see, on her daughter’s tape. They have destroyed the lives of many people, and are rewarded by getting Biden Fake Medals. This is not America. January 20th cannot come fast enough. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
Full story: Judge orders Trump to be sentenced on Jan. 10 in hush-money case
The judge overseeing the criminal case against President-elect Donald Trump in his former home state of New York has ordered him to appear before him on January 10 to be sentenced on the 34 felony counts he was convicted of last year.
In an 18-page ruling released on Friday, Judge Juan Merchan said he will not sentence Trump to a term of incarceration and would instead impose “a sentence of unconditional discharge” as “the most viable solution to ensure finality” and permit Trump to continue to appeal the case.
But Merchan rejected arguments from Trump’s attorneys, who’d sought to have the case dismissed on grounds of immunity stemming from his victory in the 2024 presidential election.
Andrew Feinberg reports.
Judge orders Trump to be sentenced on Jan. 10 in hush-money case
Justice Juan Merchan said he is not inclined to sentence Trump to any term of incarceration just ten days before he is set to be sworn in as president for a second term,
Watch: CNN breaks news of Trump’s sentencing schedule
CNN’s Paula Reid breaks down what the extraordinary announcement regrading Donald Trump’s sentencing really means.
New sentencing date is fourth scheduled since trial
Donald Trump was originally scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, 2024.
That was pushed to September 18, then November 26, and now it’s set for 10 days before he returns to the White House on January 10, 2025.
Watch: Johnson swears in members of the House for 119th Congress
Biden ramps up bird flu spending as scientists fret about H5N1 response
As concerns about outbreaks of bird flu and the nation’s response continue to grow, the Biden administration announced Friday that it would ramp up spending to support its efforts.
There are currently 66 confirmed human cases reported across 10 states, with the majority reported in California and Colorado. Of the dozens, one case in Louisiana marked the nation’s first severe illness from the virus, which likely mutated inside the patient. However, there has not yet been human-to-human transmission of H5N1.
Julia Musto reports.
Biden ramps up bird flu spending. Here’s what to know
While cases of bird flu in humans have steadily climbed since last fall, health officials maintain the risk to humans is low
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments