Before his July 11 sentencing on the 34 criminal counts he was convicted of this week, former president Donald Trump will have to meet and submit to “presentencing interviews” with members of the New York probation department.
Part of that process will involve Trump sitting for “presentencing interviews” where he will be asked all sort of uncomfortable and embarrassing questions, according to legal analyst David Henderson, who was a guest on MSNBC Saturday and was asked by host Yasmin Vossoughian, “What is required by the former president by that process?”
“What is required depends on whether or not he wants to be sentenced to probation as opposed to go to jail,” Henderson replied. “They’re not strict requirements but highly persuasive for the person who will ultimately be deciding your fate.”
“The first big question that’s asked in interviews is what is your criminal history,” Henderson added. “Former president Trump doesn’t have any. He aces that part of the interview. They will ask do you have any substance abuse issues or issues to alcohol we should take into consideration? He claims he does not. He aces that part of the interview.”
Some of the questions, however, Trump “will find uncomfortable,” Henderson predicted.
“For example, they are allowed to assess his mental health and determine whether or not he needs counseling and whether or not he would cooperate with participating in counseling. I think he fails part of the exam. And they will also ask how he feels about the charges brought against him and whether or not he accepts the jury verdict. As you said, he doesn’t have to answer but the problem here is it’s not difficult to look at statements he’s made publicly about both and it’s impossible for Judge Merchan to ignore those and it’s impossible to ignore the fact that Judge Merchan appears to be someone who cares about fairness and it’s almost impossible not to compare Trump with Michael Cohen.”
