Donald Trump was originally supposed to be sentenced on July 11. However, the sentencing was delayed after the Supreme Court made a big decision. The court ruled that former presidents cannot be prosecuted in federal court for actions they took while in office.
This decision came from a separate case involving Trump. That case, led by special counsel Jack Smith, accused Trump of trying to stay in power after losing the 2020 election. But the charges were dropped because the Justice Department has a policy that prevents prosecuting a sitting president.
Later, Trump’s sentencing was moved to September 18, but it was postponed again. This time, the delay was to make sure it didn’t interfere with Trump’s presidential campaign.
When Trump was re-elected to a second term in early November, a new hearing was scheduled for November 26. However, that hearing was also delayed. Trump’s legal team and prosecutors in Manhattan were arguing over how to move forward with the case.
Finally, last week, New York Justice Juan Merchan announced a new date for Trump’s sentencing: January 10. This is just 10 days before Trump’s inauguration as president. The judge made it clear that he does not plan to send Trump to jail.
Instead, Trump will be allowed to attend the hearing virtually, meaning he won’t need to appear in person at the court. This decision ensures the sentencing takes place while also accommodating Trump’s responsibilities as the incoming president.
