Trump rages ‘I am innocent’ & protesters flock to court as he faces hush money sentencing after Supreme Court ruling
DONALD Trump has proclaimed his innocence ahead of his hush money case sentencing that will cement his status as the first felon to serve in the White House.
Despite the president-elect's repeated efforts to dismiss the case, citing his Election Day victory and his right to presidential immunity, Judge Juan Merchan will impose sentencing on Friday.
President-elect Trump and his lead attorney, Todd Blanche, appeared together in the courtroom virtually from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, .
Trump was seen on video wearing a red tie with white or gold diagonal strips, according to the .
A group of anti-Trump protesters as well supporters of the president-elect gathered outside Manhattan Criminal Court ahead of the sentencing.
Pro-Trump demonstrators united to support the president-elect as one protester carried a large blue, red, and white "Trump Make America Great Again" banner.
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Trump proclaimed his innocence ahead of the proceeding, blasting the sentencing as a "weaponization of the justice system against a political opponent."
SUPREME COURT EFFORT
The president-elect and his legal team filed an emergency appeal with the on Wednesday in a final ditch effort to prevent the sentencing from moving forward as scheduled.
However, in a surprising 5 to 4 decision, the denied 's bid, arguing that the sentencing that would be imposed on the president-elect's responsibilities is "relatively insubstantial."
The majority included conservative judges Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. and Amy Coney Barrett, who sided with their liberal counterparts, Justices Sona Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson.
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Justice Barrett is a Trump appointee who was nominated to the higher court during his first term in September 2020.
Four of the court’s conservative justices - Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito Jr., Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh - noted disagreements without providing reasons.
"I appreciate the time and effort of the United States Supreme Court in trying to remedy the great injustice done to me by the highly conflicted 'Acting Justice,' who should not have been allowed to try this case," Trump wrote on Truth Social after the Supreme Court denied his request.
"Every Legal Scholar state, unequivocally, that this is a case that should never have been brought.
"There was no case against me. In order words, I am innocent of all the Judge's made up, fake charges.
"This was nothing other than Weaponization of our Justice System against a Political Opponent.
"It’s called Lawfare, and nothing like this has ever happened in the United States of America, and it should never be allowed to happen again."
The president-elect continued, "To this day, this highly political and corrupt Judge has put a gag order on me, which takes away my First Amendment right to speak about very important aspects of the case.
"For the sake and sanctity of the Presidency, I will be appealing this case, and am confident that JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL.
"The pathetic, dying remnants of the Witch Hunts against me will not distract us as we unite and, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
For months, Trump's sentencing was delayed several times due to the Supreme Court's presidential immunity ruling in July and a flurry of motions by his legal team.
Then, after his Election Day victory, the sentencing was derailed again as Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Trump's legal team reevaluated how to proceed with the case.
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Trump's path to sentencing
DONALD Trump will be sentenced today over his business records conviction. The U.S. Sun has documented his road to sentencing.
March 2023: Trump was indicted by a grand jury over allegations that he falsified business records, becoming the first ex-president in history to be charged with a crime.
April 4, 2023: Trump is arraigned and pleads not guilty.
April 15, 2024: Trump’s trial kicks off in Manhattan.
May 7, 2024: Stormy Daniels takes the stand and gives a graphic testimony over her alleged affair with Trump. Trump denies all claims.
May 30, 2024: Trump is found guilty on all 34 charges. He claims the verdict is rigged. A provisional sentencing date of July 11 was set.
May 31, 2024: Biden responds to Trump’s conviction, saying no one is above the law.
June 2, 2024: Trump's team says he will appeal the conviction.
July 1, 2024: The Supreme Court rules that Trump has a degree of immunity for acts committed while as president. Judge Juan Merchan postpones sentencing to September 18.
September 6, 2024: Trump’s sentencing date was pushed back again until after the presidential election.
November 6, 2024: Trump defeats Harris in the presidential election.
November 20, 2024: Trump’s team claims the case should be thrown out because of presidential immunity.
January 3, 2025: Merchan sets sentencing date for January 10. He offered Trump the chance to appear virtually.
January 6, 2025: Trump files motion with New York appeals court to postpone sentencing. His request is rejected a day later.
January 8, 2025: Trump turns to the Supreme Court to postpone sentencing. The Supreme Court rejects Trump’s motion by five votes to four.
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