Donald Trump Denounces Hush Money Investigation As A "Hoax" Ahead Of Sentencing

Donald Trump has condemned the hush money investigation into him as a "hoax" ahead of his sentencing later this month, when he could be sent to prison. In a series of posts on his platform, Truth Social, Trump has shared opinions from legal experts who argue that the charges against him should be dismissed. Among these experts are Andrew C. McCarthy, an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, and fellow attorneys David B. Rivkin and Elizabeth Price Foley. Their collective stance puts a spotlight on the ongoing legal battles surrounding Trump's actions.

In May, Trump was found guilty of 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records. This conviction stems from allegations that he directed his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to pay $130,000 to adult film star Stormy Daniels in order to conceal an alleged affair prior to the 2016 election. The payment was recorded in Trump’s business records as legal fees, raising significant legal questions.

As the date for his sentencing approaches on September 18, legal experts have suggested that a custodial sentence is unlikely. Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over the trial, is expected to make a ruling on whether to postpone the sentencing until after the November Election Day, as requested by Trump's legal team. Previously, the sentencing had been pushed from July to evaluate the implications of a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity regarding the hush money case.

After sharing the views of those who believe the hush money case should be dismissed, Trump said: "This is what various Legal Scholars and Experts, Brilliant Lawyers, and Highly Respected Journalists think of the Manhattan D.A. Hoax, where the Democrats, headed up by Comrade Kamala Harris, working directly with the DOJ (which they’re not supposed to be!), want to put a Former President of the United States, and the Leading Candidate for President, in PRISON." He further called the situation unprecedented in American history, emphasizing his belief that it’s a blatant attempt to influence the upcoming election.

In a June opinion piece for the Wall Street Journal, Rivkin and Price Foley argued that the charges were improperly escalated to felonies without adequate legal justification. They stated, "Trump, like all criminal defendants, was entitled to due process," advocating for the higher courts to overturn the verdict against him. McCarthy, writing for the National Review, also expressed that the guilty verdicts should be vacated based on the recent Supreme Court ruling regarding presidential immunity.

As Trump’s legal battles continue, experts predict that the likelihood of jail time for him remains low. Gregory Germain, a law professor at Syracuse University, stated that it’s improbable Trump will face incarceration when he is sentenced. Legal analysts believe that probation is a more plausible outcome, especially considering the political implications of jailing a presidential candidate shortly before an election.