No sentencing for Trump till after the election
How very magnanimous of Judge Merchan to wait till November 26 to sentence Donald Trump in the ludicrous records falsification “hush money” trial. Here’s the reason he gave:
“The public’s confidence in the integrity of our judicial system demands a sentencing hearing that is entirely focused on the verdict of the jury and the weighing of aggravating and mitigating factors free from distraction or distortion,” Merchan said in a letter Friday.
“Unfortunately, we are now at a place in time that is fraught with complexities rendering the requirements of a sentencing hearing, should one be necessary, difficult to execute. Thus, in accordance with certain of the grounds submitted by Defendant and the reasons for adjournment provided by the People coupled with the unique time frame this matter currently finds itself in, the decision on the [motion] and the imposition of sentence will be adjourned to avoid any appearance – however unwarranted – that the proceeding has been affected by or seeks to affect the approaching Presidential election in which the Defendant is a candidate,” Merchan said.
Earth to Judge Merchan: at least half the public has zero confidence in the integrity of our judicial system, and you have had a significant role in that loss of confidence. And there’s a sort of bleak humor in the idea that this postponement could do away with the suspicion – however unwarranted, ha ha – of an attempt to influence the election. As though the constant cries of “convicted felon!” haven’t already affected the election – although not entirely as the left had hoped.
The entire enterprise has been nothing else but an attempt to influence the election and to punish Trump for the unforgivable crime of having won the presidency in 2016.
I’m sure there’s some unacknowledged political calculation involved. Maybe actually sentencing him (which will be immediately appealed) would energize Republican voters too much.
If I understand correctly, Trump cannot appeal until after sentencing. So, he will go into election day as a convicted felon.
That’s my second reaction.
The first was that the Judge realizes that he is going to be overturned and look like a fool, maybe even called a fool by SCOTUS if it gets that far. So, he is buying time. Maybe he will suddenly find some excuse to declare a mistrial if Trump wins the election.
My third and final reaction is, ‘I have no idea what is going on.”
Doing recon on the Trump trial among the few dem/left people I know. It’s always “He’s guilty he should go to jail”. They don’t look any deeper into the elements of the “crime” and trial. It’s almost robotic. And “the news said he was guilty” It’s idiotic. And sad.
JFM:
It’s been my experience that most people have only the most rudimentary understanding of the principles of the legal system, and see it merely as a means to a desired end. If that end is achieved, it’s good. If not, it’s bad.
And some of those people are lawyers and law professors. So a person can always find an authority to back up the desired POV.
It’s not just punishment for winning the presidency, but for exposing how absolutely unreasonable, hypocritical and idiotic Never Trumpers (a mixture of libs, lefties and non-libs) are. For four years (and longer) they, ironically, have had a tantrum.
I would put a small chance we still will be fighting who won on November 2
This was election interference from the day it was announced
Merchan and his buddy, Bragg, are both an insult to American law and its judiciary. Juan Merchan’s career was a bureaucrat, and that he remains.
The good lawyers I know, some having represented me in malpractice defense with 100% success, deem Merchan a stain on the law and the judiciary.
Walls are closing in again, sigh
Wonder if this had anything to do with it. https://x.com/EliseStefanik/status/1832104309208551686?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1832104309208551686%7Ctwgr%5E229b49c2a8d94bb813c6019806fd15221a377185%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpjmedia.com%2Fvictoria-taft%2F2024%2F09%2F06%2Ftrump-judges-daughter-is-being-paid-by-harris-campaign-so-yeah-that-happened-n4932318
I’m so glad the supreme Court declared presidential immunity for official action. These azzholes want to criminalize the separation of power.
Just saw from a link at Hot Air that Dershowitz has now left the Democrat Party.
I don’t want to see
And Bill Clinton to jail for the Sudan aspirin factory.
Maybe I’m not getting the point exactly right but it stands
A president shouldn’t have to worry about a Sudanese aspirin factory. They have lots of responsibilities. You try it better
When you are in command you are on your own.
11/26/24 is two days before Thanksgiving….so… maybe some interesting conversations around the dinner table on 11/28/24.
My theory (see my Althouse post yesterday) is that it came out in Harris’ first FEC filing, that her campaign has a contract, and has paid, Marchant’s daughter’s company directly. Before that, the daughter was getting paid indirectly, like, for example, with ActBlue money. Now, the Harris campaign is paying the judge’s daughter directly. I think that takes it from “should” recuse, to “must” recuse himself territory. Easy way around that very obvious conflict of interest, that could, and would, have been used against him byTrump, is just to do no thing until after the election. And after the election, Trump and Harris will no longer be political opponents, and Marchan can proceed to the sentencing without the “must recuse” conflict of interest hanging over him.