Former U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled for a probation interview with New York officials on Monday, June 17, 2024, before his July sentencing in his criminal hush money case. The interview will take place via video conference from Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche will be present during the interview at the judge's discretion.
The purpose of a pre-sentencing probation interview is to prepare a report that informs the judge about the defendant and potentially helps determine an appropriate punishment for the crime. The report includes personal history, criminal record, employment information, and recommendations for sentencing. It also allows the defendant to explain why they believe they deserve a lighter punishment.
Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records at his own company as part of a broader scheme to buy the silence of people who might have told embarrassing stories about him during the 2016 presidential campaign. One payment went to porn actor Stormy Daniels, who claimed to have had a sexual encounter with Trump, which he denied.
Trump's legal team plans to challenge the Manhattan Supreme Court jury's May 30 verdict and has already started taking necessary steps. The sentencing date is July 11.
The probation interview comes as Trump gears up for his defense against the criminal charges. His campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, said in a statement that Biden's Democratic Party allies are continuing to interfere in the presidential election with their ongoing 'Witch-Hunts.'
Under New York law, falsifying business records in the first degree is a Class E felony punishable by up to four years in prison. Legal experts have expressed mixed views on whether Trump's prosecutors will seek incarceration or if Judge Juan Merchan would impose such a sentence.
