Judge Juan Merchan of the New York State Supreme Court announced on the 3rd that a ruling will be made on January 10, 2025, regarding the 'hush money' case involving elected President Trump. This case involves Trump's payment of hush money to former adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 U.S. presidential election to prevent her from publicly disclosing her private relationship with Trump. This case has become a key point among the many legal challenges Trump faces.
Trump has strongly responded to the upcoming ruling, continuously posting on social media to express his dissatisfaction. He claims to be the only political figure in U.S. history who cannot defend himself, questioning the legality and fairness of the case. He also accused Judge Merchan of being 'corrupt and dishonest' and demanded the cancellation of Merchan's qualifications. Meanwhile, Trump continues to complain about the unfair treatment he has received, claiming that no president has been 'illegally treated' like he has, and he blames Democratic judges and prosecutors for treating him in an 'unprecedentedly' unfair manner.
Trump faces a case that not only concerns his legal fate but may also affect whether he can take office smoothly. According to reports, Trump may appear in court personally or via remote video. However, the biggest focus of this trial is whether Trump will become the first sitting president in U.S. history to be convicted of a criminal case. Judge Merchan has stated that considering practical factors such as presidential immunity, Trump may not be imprisoned, but he is likely to face other forms of legal consequences, including public condemnation of his actions.
Although Trump may appeal in hopes of overturning the ruling, if the appeal ultimately fails, he will take office in the White House with a criminal charge, a historic moment that will have far-reaching effects on American politics and the legal system. The outcome of this case not only determines whether Trump can take office smoothly on January 20, 2025, but may also become an unprecedented political event in U.S. history.