Donald J. Trump is currently facing 34 charges in a Manhattan courtroom related to falsifying business records in connection to a hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels, a porn star. These charges are all Class E felonies, the lowest category of felonies in New York, with each count carrying a maximum prison sentence of four years.
The judge overseeing Mr. Trump’s trial, Juan M. Merchan, has emphasized the seriousness with which he views white-collar crime and the possibility of imposing a prison sentence on Mr. Trump. If convicted on multiple counts, it is likely that Justice Merchan would order a concurrent sentence, meaning Mr. Trump would serve all prison time simultaneously.
However, there is no legal requirement for Justice Merchan to send Mr. Trump, who is once again the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, to prison if he is found guilty by a jury. The judge could opt for a probation sentence instead.
In the event of a conviction, Mr. Trump is expected to appeal the decision, a process that could extend over several months or longer.
Mr. Trump may choose to bring the case to the Appellate Division in Manhattan initially, with the potential for further review by the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals in Albany.
In essence, any appeal is unlikely to be resolved prior to Election Day, and Mr. Trump is likely to remain free until the appeal process is concluded.
