Staff Reports
In an unexpected twist, the spotlight is on President-elect Donald Trump as he prepares to face sentencing by Judge Juan Merchan in New York. CNN’s legal expert Elie Honig argues that this might turn into a silver lining for Trump. Rather than being purely punitive, the sentencing may actually pave the way for a chance to appeal his conviction, which surely sounds better than the alternative of sipping herbal tea in a cell.
In a split decision, the Supreme Court—the one that liberals love to hate—refused to halt Trump’s sentencing. With Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett siding with the left, the conservative head-scratchers are left replaying old favorites, questioning how a sitting *president-elect* gets wrapped up in legal drama while still trying to run the country. Honig emphasized that this hearing could work in Trump’s favor, allowing him the opportunity to appeal what many conservatives see as a politically motivated charge.
Elie Honig Explains Why Trump ‘Actually Gets A Benefit’ By Being Sentenced https://t.co/UAII6o7RsJ pic.twitter.com/r6ofZHAjis
— IJR (@TheIJR) January 10, 2025
The real kicker in this circus? Honig believes that if Trump is sentenced to a minimal consequence, it might actually work out to his advantage. No prison time, no hefty fines—just a chance for Trump to roll right out of his comfy bed, possibly still in his slippers, and handle his business by Zoom. Compare this scenario to the more traditional, head-spinning experiences of many Americans dealing with legal matters, who are seldom afforded such luxuries.
The New York jury’s decision to find Trump guilty of 34 felony counts has many conservatives raising eyebrows. The claim of falsifying business records has become a rallying point rather than a deterrent. Honig posits that once the judge makes his ruling, Trump will be able to take his case higher—challenging the very constitutionality of the charges against him. If he hadn’t gone to court today, he would have been left twisting in the wind with no route for legal recourse.
Adding more intrigue to the proceedings, it seems Judge Merchan is considering an “unconditional discharge” sentence, meaning Trump could technically be labeled as guilty but would not face any of the customary penalties like jail time or probation. This appears to be a setup for Trump to garnish the sympathy card, further galvanizing support from his base who may view all this legal wrangling as a witch hunt. Time will tell how this saga unfolds, but for now, Trump might just emerge from this mess with his political capital intact, if not bolstered.
