Donald Trump is set to participate in a virtual interview with a probation officer from his Florida residence on Monday. This session is part of the sentencing process following his felony conviction in the New York hush-money case.
This marks the first time a former US president has been criminally convicted, underscoring the historic nature of the event. Trump, who will be joined by his lawyer Todd Blanche, will conduct the interview from his Mar-a-Lago estate, a source familiar with the situation told CBS News.
The probation officer from New York City will utilize the interview to compile a pre-sentencing report for Justice Juan Merchan, who is currently deliberating on the appropriate punishment for Trump. Last month, Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records. His sentencing is slated for July 11.
Martin Horn, a former commissioner for the New York City Department of Correction and Probation, remarked to NBC News that it is quite rare for such interviews to be conducted virtually.
“It is highly unusual for a pre-sentence investigation interview to be done over Zoom,” Horn noted.
However, he acknowledged that a visit by Trump to the downtown Manhattan courthouse could significantly disrupt court operations, especially considering the presence of the Secret Service and extensive media coverage.
This could also be unfair to other defendants who might prefer to avoid such attention. “So in the end, this might be better for the probation officer,” he concluded.
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Typically, convicts in the New York Court system do not have their lawyers present during probation interviews, according to the Associated Press.
Nevertheless, Judge Merchan has permitted Mr. Blanche to be present alongside Trump for Monday’s session. Pre-sentencing reports gather comprehensive information about a convict’s personal life, criminal history, financial situation, health condition, and overall living arrangements. These reports assist the judge in determining the appropriate punishment.
The interview presents an opportunity for the convict to argue for leniency in sentencing. Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments made to former porn star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign. Most legal analysts predict that Trump is unlikely to face jail time, given his lack of prior criminal history and his age.
As the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Trump has consistently claimed, without evidence, that the New York prosecution is politically motivated and an attempt to thwart his bid to return to the White House in the upcoming election.
He has also announced plans to appeal the conviction, maintaining his stance that the charges against him are unfounded and driven by political bias.