The Sentencing of Donald Trump
Less is more here
Thirty-four counts of business record fraud. It’s the only crime, the American Legal System has on Donald Trump.
The Georgia case looks like it’s going to slip away after an appeals court tossed Fani Willis off the case for a nothing-burger romance. The federal cases are going to disappear forever with a stroke of the pen before the sun sets on January 20, 2025
There’s definitely the potential for jail time in the Manhattan Porn Star Payoff case. And Judge Juan Mercan should avoid it. Ditto for a maximum fine times thirty-four.
Why?
Jail time of any amount is appealable. So is a fine.
What’s hard to appeal? Probation. Actually, a specific kind of probation. Non-reporting probation. The kind where the judge says “as long as you keep out of trouble, this Court won’t see you again.”
With non-reporting probation, Donald Trump is stuck with the conviction as basis of appeal.
The absence of a real punishment drastically reduces the importance of any issues regarding the evidence and the trial. The greater the punishment, the more closely evidence, testimony, and judicial rulings are examined. It certainly doesn’t help Donald Trump that the witnesses were either employees or business associates of one sort (e.g. David Pecker) or another (e.g. Stormy Daniels).
Trump’s appeals usually argue his presidential status, the bias of his prosecutors, or the believability of his accusors. They have not been big on the law, legislative history, or legal principles.
The Political Left can hang felon, rapist, and busines fraud on Donald Trump for the next 4 years, let’s not give that up.