Legal Battles from First Term Cast Shadow over Trump's Second Inauguration

Legal Cases Following Trump into Second Term

As President-elect Donald J. Trump prepares for his inauguration, several legal cases from his first term will continue to follow him.

One prominent case involves a criminal conviction for falsifying business records related to a hush-money payment made to a porn actress during the 2016 election. Mr. Trump has indicated he plans to fight the scheduled sentencing for this conviction. He has also publicly criticized the presiding judge, Justice Juan M. Merchan, calling for his disbarment.

Despite Mr. Trump's objections, Justice Merchan has made it clear that the sentencing will proceed as planned. However, he has also stated that he does not intend to recommend any prison time or home confinement for Mr. Trump. Instead, the judge plans to give Mr. Trump an unconditional discharge, which would allow him to avoid jail time but leave him with a criminal record.

This case is just one of several legal challenges that Mr. Trump faces as he enters his second term. It remains to be seen how these cases will be resolved and what impact they will have on his presidency.