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What If Judge Merchan Asks Trump To Make A Statement Before Sentencing? [1]

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Date: 2024-06-06  

What will Trump say in the sentencing hearing? I am not a lawyer (IANAL), but I’d welcome comments from lawyers. I’ve seen enough TV shows and movies to know that in the sentencing phase of a trial, the judge will sometimes ask the guilty party if he or she has anything to say. If this happens on July 11, I think there are three possibilities:

1) Trump apologizes. He says he was wrong to pay hush money to Stormy Daniels to try to cover it up to influence the election, and he says he’ll never do it again. I think this is the least likely scenario. If he does this, the judge might give him a mild sentence: a fine or a short time in jail or probation. But if Trump admits his guilt in court, it will be big news. I doubt he would ever admit he did something wrong.

2) Trump says nothing at all. I think this is unlikely, too (unless his lawyers convince him to shut the fuck up). He’s not good at being quiet. But saying nothing would be better for him than the third option…

3) Trump starts ranting about how it’s all so unfair, which is what he does all the time. I think this is most likely to happen. Maybe he says the bookkeeper marked a legal expense as a legal expense. Maybe he accuses the judge of being a pawn of Biden. Maybe he says he can’t get a fair jury trial in Manhattan. Whatever. I think Trump will show no remorse. Judge Merchan is probably ready for that.

I mentioned that IANAL. I don’t know if the judge can find him in contempt for an 11th time in a sentencing hearing. I don’t know if Merchan can sentence him to jail and revoke the bail or revoke the Release on Recognizance. I’m kind of hoping that Trump has a temper tantrum in the sentencing hearing and pisses off Merchan. Trump says “fuck you” to the judge and Merchan says “No, fuck you.”

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