US Judge announces Trump's sentencing will take place on January 10

Merchan stated that Trump could attend the hearing virtually or in person.

In his written decision, Judge Merchan noted that "the interests of justice will be served by a final resolution of this matter," and informed that Trump's sentence would be determined at the hearing on January 10.

In the decision, Merchan hinted that instead of a prison sentence, he would impose a conditional discharge, which would see the case dismissed provided Trump is not arrested again.

Judge Merchan's decision was interpreted as putting Trump, who will enter the White House following the inauguration ceremony on January 20, on track to become the first president to take office after being convicted of a felony.

Trump's lawyers had filed a formal motion with Judge Merchan on December 4, 2024, stating that the case against their client should be dismissed.

However, Merchan rejected the president-elect's motion to dismiss the case, ruling that Trump's hush money conviction remains valid.

TRUMP'S HUSH MONEY CASE

Donald Trump was indicted by a grand jury on March 18, 2023, following an investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office into illegal "hush money" payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election.

Trump, who denied the charges against him, went on trial in New York on April 15, 2024, and was found guilty on all 34 counts by a jury on May 31, following a 6-week trial.

The US Supreme Court had ruled that Trump has "some immunity" regarding his role in the January 6 Capitol riot and allegations of interference in the 2020 presidential election.

The court decided by a 6-to-3 vote that Trump has immunity from prosecution for his official acts, but that this immunity does not apply to his private conduct.

Following this, New York Court Judge Juan Merchan announced in a written statement that the "hush money" case, in which Trump's sentence was expected to be announced on September 18, had been postponed to November 26, after the November 5 US Presidential Election.

The other two federal cases against Trump, involving charges of interfering in the 2020 election and mishandling classified government documents, were dropped by Special Counsel Jack Smith after his victory in the November 5 election.

Another state-level election interference case filed in Georgia was also frozen.

The hush money case in which Trump was found guilty carried a potential penalty of a fine or up to 4 years in prison.