(10 Jan 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
New York – 10 February 2025
1. Various of Steven Wasserman, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Steven Wasserman, John Jay College of Criminal Justice:
"Well, an unconditional discharge is just simply says that there is no punishment. There is going to be no jail, no fines and and no supervision, formal or informal. And I guess it’s implicit in any sentence that one leads a law abiding life going forward. But it’s nothing. It’s no sentence."
++BLACK FRAMES++
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Steven Wasserman, John Jay College of Criminal Justice:
"In New York and nowhere else in the United States is a convicted felon permitted to to own or to carry a firearm. So therefore, the people on Fifth Avenue are safe."
+BLACK FRAMES++
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Steven Wasserman, John Jay College of Criminal Justice:
"Well, in this case, there was really there was really nothing at stake. And I think you were dealing with it with a very powerful, entitled person who is not afraid of…was not afraid of any of them. And who knows that they may even have some reason to fear him."
++BLACK FRAMES++
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Steven Wasserman, John Jay College of Criminal Justice:
"I think that the main critique of this felony conviction is really what the underlying charge was. I mean, this is, you know, far from the worst thing that he was accused of doing. It’s really just kind of a sordid matter involving some past sexual dalliance. I think people will give it the importance that it deserves. By the way, I’m not convinced that this conviction will stand up on appeal. It’s pretty clear that he committed a misdemeanor and falsifying the business record. But it is really far from clear that he was trying to conceal some additional crime. You know, paying hush money in and of itself is not a criminal act. So, I mean, I think he has a viable appeal, this may be set aside."
6. Various of Wasserman at his desk
STORYLINE:
President-elect Donald Trump was sentenced Friday to no punishment at all in his hush money case, an outcome that cements his historic conviction while letting him return to the White House unencumbered by the threat of a jail term or a fine.
With Trump appearing by video from his Florida estate, the sentence quietly capped an extraordinary trial rife with moments unthinkable in the U.S. only a few years ago.
It was the first criminal prosecution of a former U.S. president and major presidential candidate. The New York case became the only one of Trump’s four criminal indictments that has gone to trial and possibly the only one that ever will. And the sentencing came 10 days before his inauguration for his second term.
In roughly six minutes of remarks to the court, a calm but insistent Trump called the case “a weaponization of government” and “an embarrassment to New York.” He maintained that he did not commit any crime.
Steven Wasserman of John Jay College of Criminal Justice said the sentencing was very "ordinary" and said he isn’t sure the verdict will hold up on appeal.
"I’m not convinced that this conviction will stand up on appeal. I’m really it’s pretty clear that he committed a misdemeanor and falsifying the business record. But it is really far from clear that he was trying to conceal some additional crime. You know, paying hush money in and of itself is not a criminal act. So, I mean, I think he has a viable appeal that this may be set aside," said Wasserman.
===========================================================
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/fb3206dd5fac4475b7892cfdd8f36c9c
Author: AP Archive
Go to Source
News post in January 15, 2025, 9:04 pm.
Visit Our Sponsor’s:
News Post In – News
