Ex-president Donald Trump he will be questioned Monday by New York City probation officers, a necessary step before his July sentencing in his criminal case. secret money caseThree people familiar with the plan said this.
Trump will give the interview via computer video conference from his residence at the Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, sources told The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose the plans publicly.
One of Trump’s lawyers, Todd Blanche, will be present for the interview. People convicted of crimes in New York typically meet with probation officers without their lawyers, but the judge in Trump’s case, Juan Merchan, said in a letter Friday that he will allow Blanche to attend.
The usual purpose of a pre-sentence probation interview is to prepare a report that will tell the judge more about the defendant and potentially help determine the appropriate punishment for the crime.
These reports are usually prepared by a probation officer, social worker, or psychologist employed by the probation department, who interviews the defendant and possibly his family and friends, as well as people affected by the crime.
Presence reports include the defendant’s personal history, criminal history, and sentencing recommendations. It will also include information about employment and any obligations to care for a family member. This is also an opportunity for the accused to say why he thinks he deserves a lighter sentence.
A jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records at his own company as part of a broader scheme to buy the silence of people who might tell embarrassing stories about him during the 2016 presidential campaign. One payment of $130,000 went to porn actor Stormy Daniels, who claimed he had sexual contact with Trump, which he denied.
Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, says he is innocent of any crime and that the criminal case was brought to undermine his chances of retaking the White House.
Trump campaign spokesman Stephen Chung said in a statement Sunday that President Joe Biden’s Democratic allies “continue to escalate their ongoing witch hunt by continuing to abuse and misuse the powers of their offices to interfere in the presidential election.”
“President Trump and his legal team are already taking the necessary steps to challenge and overthrow the Manhattan District Attorney’s lawless case,” he said.
Merchan has scheduled Trump’s sentencing for July 11. He has the power to impose a wide range of penalties, ranging from probation and community service to up to four years in prison.