Amanda Prestigiacomo

Yeah, so Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts on charges relating to falsifying business records. This all stems from a payment Trump's former lawyer made to Stormy Daniels in 2016 without Trump's knowledge.

From the start, the case has been pretty controversial and some legal scholars have even argued that at most, you could maybe squeeze out a trivial misdemeanor offense on some record keeping, but certainly not 34 felonies. Trump and his supporters believe the case is clear political targeting, starting with DA Alvin Bragg and including Judge Mershon.

From the start, the case has been pretty controversial and some legal scholars have even argued that at most, you could maybe squeeze out a trivial misdemeanor offense on some record keeping, but certainly not 34 felonies. Trump and his supporters believe the case is clear political targeting, starting with DA Alvin Bragg and including Judge Mershon.

He's a Democrat who donated to Joe Biden, and he's been pretty hostile to Trump throughout this whole process. And that leads up to Mershon's latest ruling. He's denied Trump's bid to have this case tossed in light of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity.

He's a Democrat who donated to Joe Biden, and he's been pretty hostile to Trump throughout this whole process. And that leads up to Mershon's latest ruling. He's denied Trump's bid to have this case tossed in light of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity.

The denial was expected from Mershon, though pretty questionable, and it's still an avenue that Trump will continue to pursue in this case. So instead of tossing the case or potentially putting it on hold until Trump serves out his term as president, Mershon said in his ruling that it's in the public interest that Trump be sentenced as soon as possible. Right.

The denial was expected from Mershon, though pretty questionable, and it's still an avenue that Trump will continue to pursue in this case. So instead of tossing the case or potentially putting it on hold until Trump serves out his term as president, Mershon said in his ruling that it's in the public interest that Trump be sentenced as soon as possible. Right.

Yeah, an unconditional discharge would mean that Trump wouldn't serve any jail time or any probation. It would officially end the trial and Trump could move to appeal the 34 felony convictions. But it also would formally brand Trump as a convicted felon heading into the inauguration.

Yeah, an unconditional discharge would mean that Trump wouldn't serve any jail time or any probation. It would officially end the trial and Trump could move to appeal the 34 felony convictions. But it also would formally brand Trump as a convicted felon heading into the inauguration.

It's unclear what Trump's next move will be, but he could possibly seek an immediate appeal on the immunity claims that Mershon just rejected in this latest decision. Or he could show up virtually or in person on the 10th and, as I mentioned, go on to appeal those convictions. There's been a lot of reaction to Mershon's ruling. First, how has Trump responded? Trump swiftly condemned Mershon.

It's unclear what Trump's next move will be, but he could possibly seek an immediate appeal on the immunity claims that Mershon just rejected in this latest decision. Or he could show up virtually or in person on the 10th and, as I mentioned, go on to appeal those convictions. There's been a lot of reaction to Mershon's ruling. First, how has Trump responded? Trump swiftly condemned Mershon.

He said online that Mershon effectively made up these charges and he called him the most conflicted judge in New York State history. Trump also denounced New York's court system as corrupt and he said it's one of the reasons so many people and companies are fleeing the state. Some prominent legal scholars, honestly, weren't that far off in their criticisms of Merchan.

He said online that Mershon effectively made up these charges and he called him the most conflicted judge in New York State history. Trump also denounced New York's court system as corrupt and he said it's one of the reasons so many people and companies are fleeing the state. Some prominent legal scholars, honestly, weren't that far off in their criticisms of Merchan.

George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley, for example, he called Merchan's recent decisions the, quote, final cathartic act for lawfare warriors. Turley said the sentencing date effectively provides the media with the inauguration day talking point that Trump will be the first person sworn into presidential office as a convicted felon.

George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley, for example, he called Merchan's recent decisions the, quote, final cathartic act for lawfare warriors. Turley said the sentencing date effectively provides the media with the inauguration day talking point that Trump will be the first person sworn into presidential office as a convicted felon.

Legal scholar Andy McCarthy, who formerly served as the assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, he made a similar argument. McCarthy said that the pre-inauguration day sentencing appears to be a bid by Mershon to ensure that Trump enters office as a formerly convicted felon. Now, before you go, this isn't the only case that Trump is dealing with.

Legal scholar Andy McCarthy, who formerly served as the assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, he made a similar argument. McCarthy said that the pre-inauguration day sentencing appears to be a bid by Mershon to ensure that Trump enters office as a formerly convicted felon. Now, before you go, this isn't the only case that Trump is dealing with.

What's the status of the others? Yes, the two federal prosecutions against Trump, one concerning J6 matters and the other classified documents, they've both been dropped and special counsel Jack Smith has quickly closed up shop. As for the Georgia election related case, Fulton County DA Fannie Willis and her office have been disqualified from prosecuting Trump.

What's the status of the others? Yes, the two federal prosecutions against Trump, one concerning J6 matters and the other classified documents, they've both been dropped and special counsel Jack Smith has quickly closed up shop. As for the Georgia election related case, Fulton County DA Fannie Willis and her office have been disqualified from prosecuting Trump.

Willis is now in the process of appealing that decision. If she were to win that, she could go after Trump, but she couldn't do that until after he's out of office. And if she loses her bid, the case would be kicked to somebody else. They could continue to go after Trump, or they could drop some or all of those charges.