Steven Cheung, Donald Trump’s spokesman, criticized New York Judge Juan Merchan on Friday after the judge ordered Trump to attend a sentencing hearing next week in his hush money criminal case.
Cheung claimed the judge’s decision violated the Supreme Court’s rulings and other legal principles. He stated, “This case should never have been brought.
The Constitution requires it to be dismissed immediately. President Trump needs to focus on his duties and the presidential transition without being distracted by these politically motivated cases.”
He added, “There should be no sentencing. President Trump will keep fighting these false accusations until they are gone.”
Judge Merchan, however, said he would not give Trump a prison sentence but refused to dismiss the case. He gave Trump the choice to attend the January 10 hearing virtually or in person.
Trump was found guilty in May of 34 counts of falsifying business records. This was related to payments made by his former lawyer Michael Cohen to keep Stormy Daniels, an adult film star, quiet about her alleged affair with Trump.
NBC News reported that the judge declined to overturn Trump’s guilty verdict, explaining that the trial and verdict were fair. “The jury unanimously found the defendant guilty of falsifying records with the intent to defraud and conceal an unlawful act during the election,” Merchan wrote.
The sentencing, initially scheduled for November 26, was postponed. On CNN, law professor Ryan Goodman said Cheung’s claim about Supreme Court precedent was false.
Cheung also repeated his criticism on Fox News, calling the case a “witch hunt” and a “hoax.”
