Donald Trump could be blindsided by a surprise October phone call that could end his chances of regaining the White House.
Former Bush administration official John Yoo has sounded the alarm that the former president could end up in prison next month.
Trump has been desperately seeking to postpone his sentencing hearing until after the election after a Manhattan jury convicted him on 34 counts of falsifying business records.
But controversial Judge Juan Merchan has consistently denied their appeals.
While talking to Fox News Presenter Bill Hemmer On Thursday, Yoo said Merchan wields the power to “order Donald Trump… to jail immediately.”
Trump could face an ‘October surprise’ in the form of a prison sentence, according to law professor John Yoo
Yoo, a former Bush administration official, has sounded the alarm that Donald Trump could end up in prison next month.
Hemmer called Trump’s sentencing “the story that nobody’s talking about.”
John Yoo agreed, explaining that a possible jail sentence is “the October surprise that will come in September.”
“In five weeks, Judge Merchan will sentence Donald Trump,” the host continued. “He has been asked (Merchan) once again to step aside. He refuses to do so. How do you see this playing out? What will the judge do?”
Trump’s legal team has tried unsuccessfully to have Merchán recuse himself from the trial on three separate occasions.
Each effort has been based on the judge’s daughter’s work as a Democratic consultant, which, according to the former president’s lawyers, compromises Merchán.
New York Judge Juan Merchan has already delayed sentencing following a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity
By invoking the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on “presidential immunity,” Trump is seeking to overturn his conviction.
If his attempt fails, the former president will be sentenced on September 18.
Yoo, a prominent law professor, praised Hemmer for paying attention to the case’s timeline.
“Bill, it’s great that you’ve noticed how the calendar works this way,” the former Bush official said.
“Merchan has ruled against Donald Trump at every opportunity,” Yoo continued.
Former President Donald Trump’s lawyers said it would be “election interference” to go ahead with the Sept. 18 sentencing in his Stormy Daniels hush money case
“He could have exercised his discretion to change the sentencing date, but instead he moved it back to the start of mail-in voting in my home state of Pennsylvania.”
Pennsylvania, a key battleground state, is currently leaning toward Harris, according to the latest polls.
“Can you imagine what would happen if Judge Merchan sentenced Donald Trump to prison, even though it was his first time for a non-violent crime?” Yoo asked.
“What if Judge Merchan went even crazier and said that Donald Trump can’t even avoid going to jail while his case is on appeal?” the legal expert continued.
“Can you imagine what would happen if Judge Merchan sentenced Donald Trump to prison, even though it was his first time for a non-violent offense?” Yoo asked.
Then Yoo raised a shocking prospect.
“(Merchan) has the power to order Donald Trump sent to prison immediately,” he said, before qualifying the statement: “although I hope he doesn’t do it.”
“But this judge has used his discretion each time to try to force this trial in a political direction that will have an effect on the election,” the former Bush official concluded.
On May 30, the former president was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records in an attempt to conceal reimbursements to a lawyer who had sent “hush money” to porn star Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about an alleged tryst.
On May 30, the former president was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records.
Trump’s lawyers are now seeking to postpone sentencing until after the presidential election.
In a letter to Judge Merchan, Trump attorney Todd Blanche argued that the current schedule carries the risk of “election interference.”
“Aside from blatant objections to election interference,” Blanche wrote, “there is no valid reason for the Court to retain the current sentencing date on the calendar.”
“There is no basis for further rushing.”