Ximena Bastillo
Appearances
Up First from NPR
LA Fires Latest, Trump's Sentencing, TikTok At The Supreme Court
Well, this was a big part of the early 2024 presidential election. Trump brought the campaign trail to New York using the trial as a way to speak to the press, hold events, and talk about his political platform. But ultimately, even with a criminal conviction, voters elected him into the White House. Now, Trump continues to call the trial a political witch hunt.
Up First from NPR
LA Fires Latest, Trump's Sentencing, TikTok At The Supreme Court
There was a lot of speculation over how a trial, a conviction, and even a sentencing could affect Trump's ability to win. Yet, on election night, Trump decidedly won in the court of public opinion and will be the first convicted felon to be sworn into the Oval Office later this month. Legal experts say that this sentencing brings a much-needed finality to the trial and formally convicts him.
Up First from NPR
LA Fires Latest, Trump's Sentencing, TikTok At The Supreme Court
Well, last night, five justices of the Supreme Court, a court majority, agreed to allow the sentencing to proceed. In their decision, the court said that any concerns Trump had about the case should be first litigated through the lower courts. The justices also said that the sentencing will inflict a relatively light burden on him.
Up First from NPR
LA Fires Latest, Trump's Sentencing, TikTok At The Supreme Court
since New York Judge Juan Marchand intends to impose that sentence of unconditional discharge. Still, key to note that four conservative justices would have sided with Trump, meaning that he was just one justice away from not having to be sentenced today.
Up First from NPR
LA Fires Latest, Trump's Sentencing, TikTok At The Supreme Court
At the center of the prosecution's case were 34 invoices, checks, and ledgers that outlined a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Prosecutors argue that Trump paid off Daniels when he was running in the 2016 presidential election in order to keep her quiet about an alleged affair. The jurors ultimately convicted Trump of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.
Up First from NPR
LA Fires Latest, Trump's Sentencing, TikTok At The Supreme Court
Trump has sought to delay and throw out the whole case, especially after the Supreme Court ruled that presidents have broad immunity for official acts. Merchan, the New York judge that I mentioned, agreed to postpone the sentence several times. At one point, he agreed to push it until after the 2024 presidential election to avoid any perception of political bias.
Up First from NPR
LA Fires Latest, Trump's Sentencing, TikTok At The Supreme Court
Merchan also delayed to allow Trump to make the case that he had immunity because of some evidence in the trial that overlapped with his time as president. But Merchan said that sentencing should proceed. And where does the case go now? Well, Trump has tapped in several of his personal lawyers on the case to join him in this next administration.
Up First from NPR
LA Fires Latest, Trump's Sentencing, TikTok At The Supreme Court
That includes John Sauer, who appealed this case to the Supreme Court, and if confirmed by the Senate, will be representing the federal government at the Supreme Court level as Solicitor General. Trump has vowed to appeal the case, but moving forward, some ethical questions remain over his lawyer's ability to do so while serving in the executive branch.