A judge has scheduled Donald Trump’s sentencing for his hush-money case in New York on January 10, 2024 just under two weeks before he is inaugurated as president of the United States. 

New York Justice Juan Merchan indicated that he would not impose jail time, probation, or a fine on Trump; instead, he plans to grant him an “unconditional discharge.”

 The judge noted that Trump could attend the hearing either in person or virtually.

Trump had sought to have the case dismissed by leveraging his presidential election win.

The president-elect took to social media to label the judge’s ruling as an “illegitimate political attack,” referring to the case as “nothing but a rigged charade.”

In May, Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts for falsifying business records linked to a $130,000 (£105,000) payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

These charges stemmed from efforts to conceal reimbursements to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, who, during the final days of the 2016 election campaign, paid off Daniels to keep quiet about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump.

Trump has rejected any allegations of wrongdoing and entered a not guilty plea, claiming that the case is an effort to undermine his 2024 presidential win. 

In a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump stated that the judge’s sentencing order “contradicts our Constitution and, if upheld, would mark the end of the presidency as we know it.” 

Earlier, Trump’s spokesperson, Steven Cheung, referred to the order as part of a “witch hunt.”

“President Trump must be allowed to continue the presidential transition process and to execute the vital duties of the presidency, unobstructed by the remains of this or any remnants of the witch hunts,” Cheung said.

“There should be no sentencing, and President Trump will continue fighting against these hoaxes until they are all dead.”