Trump Sentencing Raises Legal and Governance Issues

President-elect Donald Trump is scheduled to be sentenced on January 10 for his conviction on 34 felony counts related to hush money payments made to conceal an alleged affair with Stormy Daniels during his 2016 campaign. Despite the charges carrying potential prison time, Judge Juan Merchan indicated that he does not intend to impose a jail sentence and Trump may attend the sentencing virtually. Merchan rejected Trump's motions to dismiss the case, asserting that presidential immunity does not protect him from the verdict. The sentencing follows a delay due to Trump's successful presidential campaign, which led to concerns about the case's impact on his governance. Prosecutors suggested options like delaying sentencing or offering a no-jail sentence to accommodate his presidency.