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(New York, NY) — A Manhattan judge is ordering President-Elect Donald Trump to be sentenced next week, just days before his inauguration. Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan rejected Trump’s request to dismiss the hush money case against him in a ruling Friday afternoon.
Merchan has now set Trump’s sentencing date for January 10th. In the ruling, Merchan implied he would not sentence Trump to jail time, instead giving him an unconditional discharge. In that circumstance, Trump would have the case dismissed if he avoids rearrest. The sentencing will make the Trump the first president to ever take office after being convicted of a felony. Trump was found guilty of hiding “hush money” payments to adult-actress Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election.
Trump called the case a “witch hunt” and said the President-elect will continue fighting all of the criminal cases against him.