Former President Trump plans to sit down Monday with a New York City probation officer from his home in Mar-a-Lago for a virtual interview with his attorney, Todd Blanche, against him last month, three sources familiar with the matter told NBC News.
Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, was convicted last month of all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a historic case. The court requires a probation interview as part of the former president’s pre-sentence report.
Judge Juan Merchan, who is presiding over the hush money case, allowed Blanche to appear for a probation interview via video call after prosecutors did not object. Trump’s defense team is scheduled to submit their sentencing recommendation on June 13.
The former president is scheduled to be sentenced on all 34 counts in New York on July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention begins.
Some legal experts noted that conducting a probation interview via video conference call was unusual, but keeping a former president on New York probation was also unprecedented.
Martin Horn, former commissioner of the New York City Department of Corrections and Probation, told NBC News that it was “very unusual to do a pre-sentence hearing interview on Zoom,” but acknowledged Trump’s in-person visit. The probation office was “very disruptive.”
“But you could argue that having Trump appear in the probation office on the 10th floor of the criminal court building in Manhattan, with the Secret Service and the press going after him, would be very disruptive to the probation office and unfair to other defendants who don’t want to be identified,” he said. “So ultimately, it’s Maybe better for a probation officer.”
Horne noted that the general purpose of the probation interview was to obtain information about Trump’s social and criminal history, financial resources, mental health history, physical or addiction problems, and to assess his living situation.
Trump may also be asked if he has contact with anyone with a criminal record, as he cannot have contact with them if he is under investigation, Horne said. Probation officers may also want to interview other people in Trump’s household. Although officers usually complete their inquiries in one sitting, there may be follow-up interviews. The Probation Officer will then write a report and provide it to the merchant.
The former president faces probation to four years in prison. Some legal experts have argued that Trump is unlikely to face prison time because of his age, lack of criminal record and other reasons.
Duncan Levin, a former Manhattan attorney turned defense attorney, said the prosecution is likely to ask for prison terms.
Trump’s attorney, Blanch, will be present to ensure that any questions do not put his client in legal jeopardy, Levin said. While the investigation may seem unnecessary since Trump is one of the most scrutinized public figures, it is the court’s way of judging who he is beyond what came to light during the trial.
“It’s impossible to move the needle because the judge knows so much about his background,” Levin said, referring to the probation hearing.
Levin pointed to Merson’s scathing order against Trump after he assaulted members of his family and the prison sentence of Michael Cohen, Trump’s self-described former fixer, on a series of federal charges, including lying to Congress. .
“As much as E gets a prison sentence for the crime, this case screams prison time. He showed no remorse, was in contempt 10 times, but the judge warned him, if he violates this order I will send you. Go to prison, and then he did it again several times,” Levin. “Subverting the election process is as serious a record violation as has ever come through the New York courts.”
