Judge Juan Merchans surprising decision sets the date less than two weeks before Trumps inauguration.
Read the judges Trump sentencing decision.
The judge had delayed sentencing twice already, the most recent until after the presidential election.
Donald Trump with his defense team in a Manhattan court on April 4, 2023Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images
The Supreme Courts decision inTrumphas delayed sentence not precluded it.
In May, a jury found Trump guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.
He is the first president or ex-president convicted of a felony.
Merchan ordered Trump to appear at the sentencing next week, but wrote that the president-elect could appear virtually.
This lawless case should have never been brought and the Constitution demands that it be immediately dismissed.
