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Trump is now a convicted and sentenced felon [1]
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Date: 2025-01-10
Trump is being sentenced as I write this. Following along CNN's play by play live blog. I am adding additions from the audio release of the sentencing.
CNN says that Trump's lawyers think that it's a victory after Trump has faced four criminal cases and is still on his way to the presidency. They forget. The Georgia RICO case is not over and there are multiple civil cases against Trump by Capitol policemen who were injured on Jan. 6th. No, he hasn't gotten away with murder.
CNN makes the point that Trump's lawyers think this penalty is less than for a speeding ticket.
Five prosecutors are in the courtroom.
Trump attorney Emil Bove is alone at the defense table.
Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg enters and sits behind the prosecutors.
Of course he would dishonor the flag with his presence.
Donald Trump shows up on the screen in his usual attire, but with a red striped tie. As I expected, Todd Blanche is there with him, but there is no audio yet.
Trump and Blanche are smiling until Judge Juan Merchan and his court clerks enter.
Steinglass: His conduct in this case has been characterized as premeditated and continuous deception.
Steinglass says the jury was selected after questioning on both sides and their verdict needs to be respected.
Steinglass then reads Trump the riot act about his conduct outside the trial with his lies and attacks and trying to undermine justice and convincing others to do the same.
Then Steinglass uses Trump's own words of corrupt, sham, witchhunt and rigged as examples.
Trump has been unrelenting in his attacks on this court, staff, their families, witnesses, grand jury, trial jury, prosecutors and their families. He been held in contempt other jurors and 10 times in this court.
Trump has threatened retribution against all involved in the case.
A probation report is handed to Emil Bove, and Blanche confirms that he received a copy this morning.
The report caught me by surprise because probation isn't part of the sentence, but they had to do it anyway, like Trump's mugshot in the Georgia case. Procedure.
Judge: Why don't you take some time to look at it.
There are now 4 boxes on the screen for the judge, Trump and Blanche, Bove, and the prosecutors table.
After prosecutor Steinglass reads the report, he says he has nothing to add.
Judge: Let's impose sentence, please.
Prosecutor Steinglass reaffirms the request for an unconditional discharge.
Steinglass: The jury's verdict in this case was unanimous and decisive and it must be respected.
Steinglass then lists all the things that Trump has done post verdict to undermine the jury's decision.
Steinglass says that Trump has shown no remorse for his criminal acts.
Steinglass: He has been unrelenting in his unsubstantiated attacks. This defendant has caused enduring damage to public reception of the criminal justice system.
Steinglass says that the probation officer said that Trump believed he was above the law.
Blanche says that they plan to appeal the verdict.
Blanche: A majority of the American people believe that this case should never have been brought.
Blanche says it's a sad day for Trump, his family and the country.
Trump then starts talking. I didn't think he would say anything until the very end, but he's ready to put his foot in it.
Trump: This has been a very terrible experience. I think it's been a setback for New York and the New York court system. This is a case that Alvin Bragg did not want to bring. It's been a political witchhunt, it was done to damage my reputation.
Then he begins his rant about how the bookkeeping was done and that the notation for legal fees was what the bookkeeper did and that he had nothing to do with it.
Then he talks about having won the election by millions and millions of votes, like that has anything at all to do with this case.
Trump: I'm totally innocent. I did nothing wrong.
Like the probation officer and Steinglass said, no remorse, no acceptance of the jury verdict.
Trump then refers to his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen.
Trump: He was allowed to talk like he was George Washington, but he's not George Washington.
Trump has finished talking.
Judge: Thank you, Mr. Trump.
I like it that Judge Merchan has called him Mr. Trump, not president Trump or president elect Trump or even ex-president Trump.
Judge: Never before has this court been presented with such a unique and remarkable set of circumstances.
The judge then sentenced Trump to the unconditional discharge. But it's not over yet.
Judge Merchan says that the powers of the president are not able to erase a jury verdict.
Judge: It's the legal protections afforded to the office of President of the United States that are extraordinary, not the occupant of that office. Ordinary citizens do not receive those protections, it is the Office of the President that bestows those to the office holder. It is the citizenry of this nation that recently decided that you should once again receive the benefits of those protections.
Blanch and Trump. who is Trump pointing his finger at?
The audio of the sentencing is now being released.
Any other convicted felon not serving jail time would be getting probation. They would have to check with the probation officer on a regular basis.
It didn't take long for Trump to rant on Truth Social, once more.
He starts off saying that radical Democrats have lost another witch hunt. Not so, Mr. Trump. The price you are paying is far too little for what you should be getting, but it is something.
Of course, he had to blame Biden / Harris. Just the day before, he was sitting right next to them. But Jimmy Carter's funeral means nothing to him, or any sense of decorum.
And then he goes and violates the gag order, which I assume is still in place. Insulting the judge and then calling Michael Cohen a serial perjurer. He's allowed to insult the judge. I have no idea why the judge didn't make that part of the gag order. And of course because he's already called it a witch hunt, he has to call it a hoax, all caps once again.
Judge Merchan could easily cite him for contempt of court. He's still got 10 days to do that when Trump shoots off his mouth, like he has already.
All credit to CNN for their live blog.
Here's the audio of the hearing.
[END]
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