Former President Donald Trump was convicted of falsifying business records.
Republicans in Congress are warning a New York judge not to sentence former President Donald Trump to time in prison.
Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) told The Hill that it would be “foolish” for New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan to hand down a term of imprisonment, but added that based on the judge’s actions during the trial, “I would put nothing past him at this point.”
Sentencing President Trump to prison would be a “further abuse of power” and an additional indication that “the courts have been weaponized,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) told the outlet.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said that given President Trump’s lack of criminal history, he doubts a prison sentence is in the cards.
“It would probably help him get reelected if he’s behind bars,” Mr. Grassley said.
Jurors on May 30 convicted President Trump of falsifying business records with the intent to conceal another crime, a crime with which he has never been charged.
Lawyers for the ex-president vowed to appeal the case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary. Will Scharf, one of the lawyers, said over the weekend that he did not think President Trump would end up being subject to any sentence.
“There’s a system in place where you rely on precedent, and somebody like President Trump should never, never face a jail sentence based on this conduct,” Todd Blanche, another attorney, said. “Other 77-year-old, first-time offenders would never be sent to prison for this conduct.”
Sentencing is sometimes delayed as appeals work their way through the court system. Sentencing before Justice Merchan is currently scheduled for July 11.
President Trump could land up to 20 years in prison under state law.
While speaking to reporters after the verdict was announced, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg declined to say whether prosecutors would seek prison time for President Trump.
Republican members of Congress said that if President Trump does end up in prison, they would still vote for him.
