Today, Donald Trump will sit for his pre-sentencing probation interview
Donald Trump, the 45th president of the United States who was recently found guilty of all 34 felony counts in a Manhattan criminal hush money trial where he was convicted of falsifying business records to conceal another crime, is scheduled to sit for a probation interview today, June 6, 2024, as required in anticipation of his upcoming July 11 sentencing. The interview will be conducted remotely with Trump being interviewed by a female probation officer who will be speaking with the former president from New York City, while Trump will be sitting in front of a video camera at his Mar-a-Lago residence. Trump is expected to be accompanied by legal counsel during the historic probation interview.
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Related, see: “Trump found guilty on all 34 felony counts: What’s next for the former president?”
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The purpose of this mandatory pre-sentencing probation interview is to prepare a report that will inform the judge more about the defendant, and potentially help determine the proper punishment for the crime. Such reports are typically prepared by a probation officer, a social worker or a psychologist working for the probation department who interviews the defendant and possibly that person’s family and friends, as well as people affected by the crime. ~ The Associated Press
The presentence report gleaned by today’s probation interview, which usually covers topics like the defendant’s personal history, criminal history, financial resources, history of mental health, physical or addiction, the defendant’s living situation, and any prosecutorial recommendations for sentencing – also provides an opportunity for Trump to “plead his case” in the hopes of receiving the softest possible sentencing by Judge Juan Manuel Merchan. The Trump defense team is scheduled to submit their sentencing recommendation on June 13.
When July 11 rolls around, Merchan will have a wide range of sentencing options available to him for the former president. The maximum prison term he could hand down is four years behind bars. House arrest, community service, probation and a combination of any of those options are also possible.
The general thinking on the part of legal experts is that due to Trump’s age, lack of any serious criminal convictions, and perhaps in consideration that he was once president of the United States, there won’t be any jail time handed down – unless Trump’s behavior regarding ignoring the judge’s gag order on multiple occasions is taken into account.
NBC News shared former Manhattan prosecutor Duncan Levin’s belief that the prosecution will indeed be seeking jail time for Donald Trump.
“To the extent that an E felony is punishable by jail, this case screams out for jail time, he has shown no remorse and has been held in contempt 10 times, but the judge warned him if he breaks the gag order I will send you to jail and then he did it again several times,” Levin said. “And subverting the election process is as serious a records violation as has ever come through the New York courts.”
For more on Donald Trump’s probation interview, see the video accompanying this article.
Video:
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Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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