Former President Donald Trump scheduled for probation interview ahead of July sentencing in New York criminal case
Interview to take place via video conference from Mar-a-Lago club on June 17, 2024
Interview unlikely to shed new details but could potentially work against Trump if he demonstrates contempt towards probation officer
Probation interview serves to provide probation officer with information for sentencing report
Trump convicted of falsifying business records as part of hush money payment scheme involving Stormy Daniels
Trump denies wrongdoing and claims criminal case is politically motivated
Former President Donald Trump is scheduled for a probation interview on Monday, June 17, 2024, prior to his July 11 sentencing in his New York criminal case involving hush money payments. The interview will take place via video conference from Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump's defense lawyer Todd Blanche will be present during the interview.
Trump was convicted of falsifying business records as part of a broader scheme to hide information from voters ahead of the 2016 election, including a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The purpose of the pre-sentencing probation interview is for the probation officer to prepare a report that will provide Judge Juan Merchan with more information about Trump's personal history, criminal record, employment status, and any obligations to care for family members. It also serves as an opportunity for Trump to present positive information that may influence the sentence.
The interview is unlikely to shed new details about Trump's conduct or character but could potentially work against him if he demonstrates contempt towards the probation officer. The report prepared by the probation officer, along with sentencing submissions from both sides, will be used by Merchan to consider what kind of sentence to impose on July 11.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing and claims that the criminal case is politically motivated. Following his historic conviction, a New York Times/Siena College post-verdict analysis found that Trump's advantage over Joe Biden narrowed from three to one point in voter interviews.
The Manhattan District Attorney's office has also reportedly planned to revoke Trump's gun license as a result of his conviction.
Former President Donald Trump is expected to attend a presentencing interview on Monday afternoon ahead of his July 11 sentencing in his New York criminal case.
A probation officer will conduct the interview to prepare a report recommending the appropriate punishment for Judge Juan Merchan to impose at the former president's sentencing next month.
Last month, a jury convicted Trump of falsifying business records as part of a scheme to hide information from voters ahead of the 2016 election, including a $130,000 money payment to buy the silence of adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
Judge Merchan signed an order last week permitting Trump's defense lawyer, Todd Blanche, to attend the interview.
The interview will not be public, and the report prepared ahead of Trump's sentence will likely remain under seal.
In the New York state courts, a probation officer, social worker, or psychologist usually interviews a defendant convicted of a crime to better access their personal and criminal history before preparing a presentence report for the judge overseeing the case.
The report normally covers a defendant's personal history, finances, professional work, criminal record and background information about the crime.
The interview also presents the defendant an opportunity to present positive information about themselves and make the case for a lighter sentence.
However, it is unlikely to serve a vital role in Trump's case because the judge is already familiar with the alleged conduct and Trump's overall character.
While the interview is unlikely to shed new details about Trump's conduct or character, it could work against him if he demonstrates contempt toward the probation officer.
The report prepared by the probation officer, along with sentencing submissions prepared by both sides, will be used by Merchan to consider what kind of sentence to impose on July 11.
Trump was convicted of 34 class-E felonies and could face a maximum four-year sentence.
Accuracy
Donald Trump is expected to attend a presentencing interview on Monday afternoon ahead of his July 11 sentencing in his New York criminal case.
A probation officer will conduct the interview to prepare a report recommending the appropriate punishment for Judge Juan Merchan to impose at the former president's sentencing next month.
In the New York state courts, a probation officer, social worker, or psychologist usually interviews a defendant convicted of a crime to better access their personal and criminal history before preparing a presentence report for the judge overseeing the case.
The interview also presents the defendant an opportunity to present positive information about themselves and make the case for a lighter sentence.
However, it is unlikely to serve a vital role in Trump's case because the judge is already familiar with the alleged conduct and Trump's overall character.
Donald Trump is scheduled for a probation interview on Monday 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 denies any wrongdoing and claims the criminal case is politically motivated.
Accuracy
Former President Donald Trump is expected to attend a presentencing interview on Monday afternoon ahead of his July 11 sentencing in his New York criminal case.
Donald Trump was convicted on all 34 felony counts in Manhattan
Donald Trump will have a virtual interview with a probation official on Monday from his home at Mar-a-Lago for a pre-sentencing report.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
The article contains some instances of appeals to authority and inflammatory rhetoric, but no formal or blatant logical fallacies were found. The author reports on the plans for Trump's interview with probation officers and the potential consequences of his conviction. She also includes quotes from various sources, including Trump himself, without making any fallacious arguments based on their content.
][Trump] Those appellate courts have to step up and straighten things out, or we’re not going to have a country any longer.[/]
[Trump's campaign spokesperson] the president’s Democratic party allies ‘continue to ramp up their ongoing Witch-Hunts, further abusing and misusing the power of their offices to interfere in the presidential election[']
Donald Trump was convicted on all 34 felony counts in Manhattan
Trump’s probation interview with his New York City probation officer is scheduled for 10 days after the conviction
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(30%)
The author, Dennis Aftergut, uses emotional manipulation and sensationalism in this article by imagining a conversation between Donald Trump and his probation officer. The author presents Trump's potential responses as fact without providing any evidence that the conversation actually occurred. This is a clear example of deception through selective reporting.
> I can leak it, right? Voters love candidates like me who don’t give a . . . who hate authority. That’s why I lead in every poll in the universe.
> And you saw that I followed that illegal gag order 100% except for 10 times. And only once did I talk loud enough for the jury to hear me, when I said ‘Juror No. [redacted] is a Trump-hater.’
> Aftergut, a former federal prosecutor, is of counsel to Lawyers Defending American Democracy.
> Rules? I follow every rule that helps me. The rules that don’t will be disappearing before long.
> My lawyers kept me from testifying. I would have won if I did.
Fallacies
(65%)
The author, Dennis Aftergut, uses several informal fallacies in this article. He engages in an appeal to emotion by describing the potential consequences of Trump's jail time on 'very good people.' He also employs a false dilemma or dichotomy when he presents Trump's situation as being between 'wanting to stay out of jail and performing for his base.' Additionally, there are instances of victim blaming when Trump claims that the justice system is biased against him and that others have committed worse crimes. These fallacies reduce the score to 65.
The country won’t stand for it if I get jail time. Some very good people will go over the edge.
I am wronged by everybody... The judge was against me... They screwed up, that’s the only reason I’m here.
Bias
(10%)
The author, Dennis Aftergut, uses language that depicts Trump as a victim and portrays the legal system as biased against him. He also makes unfounded claims about the judge's motivations for keeping Trump out of jail. However, these examples do not significantly impact the overall article and are more akin to commentary rather than reporting.
Aftergut, a former federal prosecutor, is of counsel to Lawyers Defending American Democracy.
] I have plans for the FBI.[/
The fake media is against me.
You saw my smart son, Eric, sitting there every day of the trial. You saw Don Jr. there on the last day.
Former President Donald J. Trump will have a virtual interview with a probation official on Monday from his home at Mar-a-Lago for a pre-sentencing report.
Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in May 2023.
