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GREGG JARRETT: NY judge desperate to brand Trump 'convicted felon' before inauguration
Trump NY sentencing set for January 10th
Fox News legal analyst Gregg Jarrett and Harvard Law professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz discuss the latest developments in the New York legal case against President-elect Donald Trump during an appearance on ‘Hannity.’
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New York Judge Juan Merchan’s dogmatic refusal on Friday to dismiss the misbegotten case against President-elect Donald Trump and, instead, proceed to sentencing on Jan. 10 is yet another middle finger extended to the law. And to Trump.
At the same time, Merchan unwittingly concedes the folly of the entire prosecution by notifying the defendant that neither the court nor District Attorney Alvin Bragg will seek any meaningful punishment. Trump, the judge disingenuously advises, would receive an “unconditional discharge” with no incarceration, fine, or probation following the guilty verdicts by a Manhattan jury last May.
TRUMP SLAMS MERCHAN, DEMOCRATS, WHO JUST WANT ‘A POUND OF FLESH’ AMID FAILED CASES
Never mind that state law does not support a jail sentence under these circumstances. Forget that the district attorney deliberately contorted statutes and mangled evidence to pursue a meritless prosecution that was motivated purely by political vengeance. And ignore the fact that there is little chance that the biased jury’s guilty verdict, compounded by Merchan’s chronic reversible errors, will withstand judicial scrutiny on appeal. Eventually.
It seems obvious that Merchan is desperate to stain Trump with the formal stricture of “convicted felon.” To do it, he must sentence the incoming president. A jury’s verdict alone is insufficient under the law. Hence, the offer of what amounts to a non-sentence if only Trump will, at the very least, appear virtually during a hearing 10 days before he is sworn in.
It is another charade meant to bookend —and cover-up— a sham trial. Show up to be verbally tarred and feathered, but no stocks or pillory will be deployed.
In some sense, it may be tempting to accept Merchan’s contingent surrender. Why? Under law, Trump is foreclosed from challenging the myriad of mistakes the judge made at trial, as well as the prosecution’s specious legal theory, until sentencing occurs. Only then is he officially “convicted.” A successful appeal erases the conviction, albeit belatedly.
And there’s the rub.
Your average defendant would accept the Faustian bargain that guarantees no jail time and starts the clock immediately on the appellate process. But Trump is different. He is an inveterate fighter who refuses to capitulate, even when his opponents are facing reproach. It’s one of the many reasons why voters rewarded him with a second term in office. He does not give up or give in. Nor should he.
A competent or objective judge would have long ago tossed the Trump indictment in the garbage where it belonged. On its face, it was patently deficient, if not ludicrous, and a transparently politicized prosecution.
Trump is determined to clear his name. So, you can expect that his legal team will challenge Merchan’s ruling on both the dismissal and sentencing. There are various legal options available, such as filing for an emergency “stay” from the appellate courts that, if granted, may push any further proceedings beyond inauguration on Jan. 20.
Since it is well established that presidents are immune from any criminal process while in office —a principle that even Merchan accepts— a court-ordered pause would effectively delay sentencing until 2029. Of course, that assumes the case still has a pulse four years from now.
Trump has a credible argument that the verdicts against him should be vacated now. As president-elect, his lawyers contend that “immediate dismissal is mandated by the federal Constitution, the Presidential Transition Act of 1963, and the interest of justice.” Sentencing would disrupt the orderly transfer of executive power.
Justice Juan Merchan looks on as Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump attends his criminal trial over charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, at Manhattan state court in New York City, U.S. May 30, 2024 in this courtroom sketch. (REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg)
In essence, a state has no right or power to transgress federal laws passed by Congress, including the Transition Act. Interference by a local prosecutor and/or judge constitutes a violation of the Supremacy Clause in the Constitution.
But there are other compelling reasons to end this case sooner, rather than later.
In an earlier ruling, Merchan readily acknowledged his authority to set aside the verdicts if mistakes were made at trial which would merit reversal. Yet, he stubbornly refuses to recognize the plethora of errors that demand dismissal.
Chief among them is that prosecutors relied on tainted evidence prohibited in the presidential immunity standard enunciated by the Supreme Court on July 1. Testimony from White House officials and numerous presidential records should never have been introduced. Merchan disregards all this by insisting that such evidence was trifling, even though prosecutors emphasized it during closing arguments to the jury.
He also turned a blind eye to Bragg’s convoluted and incoherent legal theory that it must somehow be a crime to conceal a perfectly legal non-disclosure agreement. It is not. He then allowed the district attorney to shred the law by resurrecting expired business record misdemeanors and transmuting them into phantom election felonies that were falsely portrayed as unduly influencing the 2016 presidential contest.
It was a pretty neat trick inasmuch as Trump’s transactions were recorded and reimbursed after the election. Moreover, Bragg, as a local prosecutor, had no jurisdiction to enforce federal campaign laws. The payments to former adult film star Stormy Daniels did not even qualify as contributions under any statute or regulation.
As I have noted before, a competent or objective judge would have long ago tossed the Trump indictment in the garbage where it belonged. On its face, it was patently deficient, if not ludicrous, and a transparently politicized prosecution.
But Bragg’s disgraceful legerdemain did not bother Merchan in the least. Just the opposite. His honor merrily went along with the hocus-pocus. At trial, he shed his black robe to join the jurisprudential circus as co-prosecutor.
When the preordained verdicts were announced, no one knew exactly what Trump was convicted of. Theoretically, bookkeeping errors were allegedly committed to further another crime in an unlawful attempt to influence the election.
But what crime? No one can say. Was it federal campaign law violations? Taxation laws? False business records? Select from the aforementioned menu of imaginary possibilities. Trump doesn’t know because prosecutors never said. And neither did the jurors.
In an appalling instruction to the panel, Merchan declared that they did not have to identify which crimes were supposedly perpetrated and need not agree unanimously. He abandoned with impunity the bedrock principle of unanimity in criminal convictions which the Supreme Court has reinforced repeatedly.
Merchan’s courtroom devolved into a cesspool of incomprehensible rulings by a conflicted and hostile judge that deprived Trump of a fair trial. Merchan and prosecutors worked in concert to engineer the guilty verdicts. Political bias smothered the defendant’s due process rights. It was a harebrained case driven by a district attorney who enthusiastically embraced the Democrats’ corrupt lawfare campaign against their Republican opponent.
None of it fooled American voters. Indeed, it appears to have backfired spectacularly. Many deeply resented how Trump’s adversaries disfigured the law to bring a series of criminal indictments designed to destroy his chances of returning to the White House. Outrage was voiced at the ballot box on Nov. 5. Decisively.
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Despite their best efforts to sabotage the outcome of the election, the unscrupulous duo of Merchan and Bragg can do nothing now to stop Trump. Even if his anticipated bid to halt the sentencing next Friday fails, the newly elected president still benefits. He can commence appealing the shameless perversion of the law that was waged against him and the miscarriage of justice that ensued.
It wasn’t a fair trial. It was a farce.
In the meantime, it is incumbent on the incoming Department of Justice to open a comprehensive investigation into the lawfare campaign that Special Counsel Jack Smith, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg brought almost simultaneously and only after Trump announced his bid for election.
Coincidence? Hardly. There is reason to believe that there was coordination among them with President Joe Biden’s White House or with Attorney General Merrick Garland’s DOJ. Maybe both. If laws were broken, prosecutors should be exposed and held accountable for weaponizing the justice system.
Democrats have spent the last four years lecturing us that no one is above the law. Inconveniently now, that same standard applies to them.
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Boston, MA
World Cup 2026 stadium guides: Welcome to Boston Stadium, which… isn’t really in Boston at all
This article is part of our World Cup Stadium Guides series, in which we look at the 16 venues that will host matches at the 2026 tournament.
Rooted in a past that helped shape a nation, Boston is a region with plenty of history.
It is where key moments in the United States’ past took place, including the Boston Tea Party and the opening clashes of the American Revolutionary War.
In sports, championship-winning teams for the Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins have helped define a legacy of success.
And, just outside the capital of Massachusetts, Boston Stadium (as it will be known for the World Cup) has been central to that sporting reputation.
That is in no small part thanks to the dominance of NFL side the New England Patriots, while Major League Soccer outfit the New England Revolution also call the stadium home. As interest in the beautiful game Stateside continues to grow, it will now take centre stage this summer.
Here’s what you need to know about Boston Stadium ahead of the World Cup.
What is it normally called? And what will it be called at the World Cup?
The stadium is usually known as Gillette Stadium, after the shaving brand that holds the naming rights.
Due to FIFA’s commercial regulations, it will be referred to as Boston Stadium during the 2026 World Cup — and all the usual stadium signage must be covered up.
Despite the name, the venue is not located directly in Boston — it sits almost 30 miles southwest in Foxboro, Massachusetts. It was at the centre of a dispute as Foxboro did not want to pay the $7.8million (£5.8m) security costs associated with the World Cup, before an “understanding” was reached with the stadium owner Kraft Sports & Entertainment (KSE) and the Boston host committee in March.
When did it open, how much did it cost, and who plays there?
The stadium opened in 2002, replacing the former Foxboro Stadium.
Built at a cost of approximately $325million, it was designed as a modern, multi-purpose venue capable of hosting both American football and soccer at the highest level.
As the home of the New England Patriots and New England Revolution, it is one of the few stadiums in the U.S. regularly used for both sports.
The statue of former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady outside the stadium (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The first NFL regular season game held there was against the Pittsburgh Steelers, in September 2002.
The stadium has since been through a $250million renovation that was completed in 2023, marking the largest upgrade process since its opening.
What are the most famous moments that have happened there?
Unsurprisingly, many of the most iconic moments belong to the Patriots, a team that has long dominated the NFL.
During the eras of legendary former quarterback Tom Brady and longtime head coach Bill Belichick, they built a dynasty that helped define a generation. Their Super Bowl victories were played elsewhere, but this is where the foundations of their success were built.
Among the significant moments are the 2003 AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts, and a 2007 win against the San Diego Chargers that helped the Patriots complete a perfect regular season.
The 2017 AFC Championship Game win against the Pittsburgh Steelers was another memorable moment, as was the comeback victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2018 AFC Championship Game. The 2014 comeback win against the Baltimore Ravens was also notable.
In soccer, the Revolution produced a historic season in 2021, winning the Supporters’ Shield. The stadium has hosted international fixtures and was one of the venues for the 2003 Women’s World Cup. The 2016 NHL Winter Classic was hosted here, too.
Beyond sport, the stadium has hosted global superstars including Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé.
How many fans can it hold? Will it be full for the World Cup?
The stadium has a standard capacity of around 65,000, but it can expand to more than 68,000 for some events. For the World Cup, it is expected to be close to full capacity for all matches.
A recent friendly match between France and Brazil drew a crowd of 66,215 — the second-largest gate for a soccer game here, behind a 2007 friendly between Brazil and Mexico that brought in 67,584 fans.
France’s friendly against Brazil drew in 66,215 fans (Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
The highest attendance for any event is held by singer Ed Sheeran. His concert in 2023 attracted a crowd of 71,723.
What kind of pitch does it use?
It typically uses a FieldTurf artificial surface, which is standard for NFL competition.
For the World Cup, however, FIFA regulations require natural grass and a temporary grass pitch has been installed specifically for the tournament.
It has already undergone matchday testing. The process of replacing the field began in February and a grass pitch was in place for the Brazil-France game.
Special irrigation and ventilation techniques are being used to maintain surface quality.
There is no roof on the stadium, unlike some others across America.
What will the weather be like?
In the Boston and Foxboro area, June and July generally bring warm and humid conditions.
Temperatures typically range from 68°F (20C) and 86°F (30C), with occasional rain or thunderstorms possible.
Are there other changes for the World Cup?
As with all World Cup venues, several temporary adjustments are required.
Beyond the installation of a natural grass pitch, Boston Stadium must remove sponsor branding in line with FIFA regulations. Upgrades to seating, media facilities, security and hospitality areas are also going ahead.
How do you get there?
Getting to the stadium requires some planning, as it is located outside central Boston.
Special train services will run between South Station and Boston Stadium at a cost of $80, sold on the mTicket site.
For those driving, the stadium is accessible via major highways, but traffic can be heavy during big events.
There will only be 5,000 parking spots available for fans at Boston Stadium this summer (Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Twenty-thousand parking spots are usually available around the stadium during New England Patriots games, but there will only be 5,000 spots for fans parking at the World Cup, due to a new safety perimeter around the stadium.
Shuttle services are common, but fans are advised to allow extra time. Rideshare options are available and the stadium has a designated drop-off spot.
What can fans expect?
Inside the stadium, fans can expect a modern venue with strong sightlines and an atmosphere that is usually intense.
There is also a stunning video display board measuring 60ft high by 370ft wide, situated in the north end.
A view of the 60ft by 370ft video display board at Boston Stadium (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Beyond the stadium itself, the surrounding Patriot Place offers a full matchday experience — with restaurants, bars and fan areas creating a lively build-up to games right alongside the main venue.
Anything else I should know?
One of the stadium’s standout additions is impossible to miss: a 22-story lighthouse towering above the north end zone.
At the top sits a 360-degree observation deck offering views of the stadium and beyond.
The design is a nod to New England’s maritime identity — a region shaped by the sea and dotted with more than 100 historic lighthouses.
Which games will be played there?
There will be five group games and two knockout games played at Boston Stadium.
June 13, Group C: Haiti v Scotland, 9pm local time, 2am BST (+1)
June 16, Group I: Iraq v Norway, 6pm local time, 11pm BST
June 19, Group C: Scotland v Morocco, 6pm local time, 11pm BST
June 23, Group L: England v Ghana, 4pm local time, 9pm BST
June 26, Group I: Norway v France, 3pm local time, 8pm BST
June 29, Round of 32 game: 4.30pm local time, 9.30pm BST
July 9, Quarterfinal game: 4pm local time, 9pm BST
The Stadium Guides series is part of a partnership with StubHub.
The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
Ross Township leaders honored two civilians Monday night for their actions last month helping a police detective while they were making an arrest.
Last month, police said that a detective was involved in a fight at the intersection of Columbia Avenue and Center Avenue in West View and needed help from additional officers.
While the fight was taking place, two bystanders jumped into action.
Former police officer Johnathan Ponce offered his help to the detective while Justin Gavasto got on the detective’s radio to alert dispatch of the ongoing situation.
Ponce and Gastavo were both honored Monday evening at the Ross Township Board of Commissioners meeting.
“I’m very thankful,” said Ross Township Police Department Detective Michael Orsino. “Eventually, I think you know, my partners would all have gotten there, but just the fact that it took a little bit longer because I wasn’t sure I could get out on my radio. It was great that these guys came and gave me a hand.
“Honestly, I don’t feel like I did anything special,” Gavasto said. “I really don’t. I would hope that anyone driving by and saw an officer in distress or anyone in distress would pull over to help. Help out where you can. Help those that need it. That’s really the take away I got from all this.”
Gavasto said it took him a little bit of time to find the radio that was in Det. Orsino’s police cruiser, then using the radio to identify himself as a civilian and notifying dispatch that additional backup resources were needed.
“Due to the actions of both men, including Mr. Gavasto communicating to dispatch, myself and the West View police officer were able to place the suspect under arrest without anyone suffering any serious injuries,” Det. Orsino said.
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — With a nearly party-line vote, the Connecticut State Senate gave final approval to a bill introducing new regulations on homeschooling families.
Twenty-two Democrats voted in favor, with three others joining the entire 11-member Republican caucus in opposition.
The bill that was put before senators for debate is a modified version of one that was first introduced in March, drawing a sizable protest of homeschooling families who viewed the attempt at new regulations as an afront to their autonomy.
The original legislation would have required homeschooling parents to annually provide proof that their curriculum aligned with a general set of state-mandated topics. It also included a provision requiring that parents seeking to remove their child from the public school system first be subjected to a background check of sorts in which school officials would consult the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to see if anyone in the child’s household had a history of abuse.
The legislation was introduced amidst a string of alarming headlines documenting cases of alleged child abuse and, in two cases, the deaths of children who had been removed from the public school system.
The Democrats backing the bill have pointed to these cases as illustrating the need for reform. They have also repeatedly cited a 2018 report compiled by the state’s Office of the Child Advocate which surveyed six school districts and found “that over a span of three academic years, 2013 through 2016, there were 380 students withdrawn from the six districts to be homeschooled, and that 138 of these children (36%) lived in families that were the subject of at least one prior accepted report to DCF for suspected abuse or neglect.”
Republicans largely sided with the sentiments of the homeschooling parents, who felt they were being unfairly scapegoated. They also questioned the effectiveness of the measures introduced by Democrats, arguing some of them, like the requirement to provide proof of instruction, were burdensome, while not directly addressing the issue of abuse.
In the weeks following the public hearing, Democratic leadership in the House also registered discontent with certain sections among their own ranks.
The fierce Republican opposition, paired with scattered Democratic dissent, caused House leadership to remove the curriculum portion while maintaining a DCF check before removal from public schools and a requirement that homeschooling parents annually register themselves online.
A spokesperson for Gov. Ned Lamont said Monday that the governor is likely to sign the legislation.
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