According to three sources familiar with the situation, former President Donald Trump will be examined by New York probation officials on Monday as part of the process leading up to his July sentencing in his criminal hush money case.
According to The Associated Press, Trump will interview via computer video conference from his property at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida. They talked on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the plans publicly.
Trump To Undergo Probation Interview Monday, A Required Step Before His New York Sentencing
Todd Blanche, one of Trump’s lawyers, will be present throughout the interview. People convicted of crimes in New York often meet with probation officers without their lawyers present, but the judge in Trump’s case, Juan Merchan, stated in a letter Friday that he would allow Blanche’s presence.
A pre-sentencing probation interview is typically used to compile a report that will provide the judge with further information about the defendant and maybe assist in determining the appropriate penalty for the crime.
A probation officer, a social worker, or a psychologist working for the probation department normally prepares such reports after interviewing the defendant, his or her family and friends, and those affected by the crime.
Presentence reports comprise a defendant’s history, criminal record, and sentencing recommendations. They will also include details about a job and any responsibilities to care for a family member. The reports also allow defendants to explain why they believe they deserve a reduced punishment.
Trump To Undergo Probation Interview Monday, A Required Step Before His New York Sentencing
A jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records at his firm as part of a larger plot to purchase the silence of people who might have revealed embarrassing information about him during the 2016 presidential campaign. One $130,000 payment was made to Stormy Daniels, a porn performer who claimed to have had a sexual encounter with Trump, which Trump denied.
Trump, the likely Republican presidential nominee, claims he is innocent of all charges and that the criminal case was initiated to harm his chances of regaining the presidency.
Trump’s campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, said in a statement Sunday that President Joe Biden’s Democratic Party supporters “continue to ramp up their ongoing Witch-Hunts, further abusing and misusing the power of their offices to interfere with the presidential election.”
Trump To Undergo Probation Interview Monday, A Required Step Before His New York Sentencing
“President Trump and his legal team are already taking necessary steps to challenge and defeat the lawless Manhattan DA case,” he stated.
Merchan has set Trump’s sentencing on July 11. He has the authority to inflict various sanctions, ranging from probation and community work to up to four years in prison.
SOURCE – (AP)
