Former President Donald Trump is set to undergo an interview with New York probation officials on Monday as part of the pre-sentencing process for his criminal hush money case. The interview, which will be conducted via a computer video conference from his residence at the Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, will have one of Trump's lawyers present.
Typically, individuals convicted of crimes in New York meet with probation officials without their lawyers. However, in Trump's case, the judge has allowed his lawyer to be present during the interview. The purpose of the pre-sentencing probation interview is to gather information about the defendant, including personal history, criminal record, and recommendations for sentencing.
The interview process involves a probation officer, social worker, or psychologist from the probation department interviewing the defendant, as well as potentially speaking with family, friends, and individuals affected by the crime. The report prepared from this interview will assist the judge in determining the appropriate punishment for the crime.
Trump was convicted by a jury of falsifying business records at his company as part of a scheme to silence individuals who could have shared embarrassing stories about him during the 2016 presidential campaign. One of the payments made was to Stormy Daniels, a porn actor who alleged a sexual encounter with Trump, which he denied.
Trump maintains his innocence and claims that the criminal case was orchestrated to hinder his chances of returning to the White House. His campaign spokesman criticized the ongoing investigations, labeling them as 'Witch-Hunts' by President Joe Biden's Democratic Party allies.
The sentencing for Trump is scheduled for July 11, with the judge having the discretion to impose various punishments, ranging from probation and community service to a maximum of four years in prison.
