Trump will have a probation interview on Monday, a required step before his sentencing in New York

By MICHAEL R. SISAK
Associated Press

Former President Donald Trump is expected to be questioned Monday by New York probation officials, a necessary step before his sentencing in July in his criminal hush money case, according to three people familiar with the plan.

Trump will conduct the interview via computer video conference from his residence at the Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, the sources told The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly disclose their plans.

One of Trump's lawyers, Todd Blanche, will be present for the interview. People convicted of crimes in New York typically meet with probation officers without their lawyers, but the judge overseeing Trump's case, Juan Merchan, said in a letter Friday that he would allow Blanche to be present.

The usual purpose of a pre-sentencing probation interview is to prepare a report that will tell the judge more about the defendant and potentially help determine the appropriate sentence for the crime.

These reports are usually prepared by a probation officer, social worker, or psychologist working for the probation department who interviews the defendant and possibly that person's family and friends, as well as people affected by the crime.

Pre-sentence reports include a defendant's personal history, criminal record, and sentencing recommendations. It will also include information about employment and any obligations to help care for a family member. It is also an opportunity for a defendant to explain why they believe they deserve a lighter sentence.

A jury found Trump guilty of falsifying his own company's business records, part of a larger scheme to buy the silence of people who may have told embarrassing stories about him during the 2016 presidential campaign. A $130,000 payment was made to a porn actor, Stormy Daniels, who claimed she had a sexual relationship with Trump, which he denied.

Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, says he is innocent of any crime and that the criminal case was brought to hurt his chances of regaining the White House.

Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement Sunday that President Joe Biden's Democratic Party allies “continue to escalate their ongoing witch hunts, further abusing and abusing the power of their offices to interfere in the presidential election.

“President Trump and his legal team are already taking the necessary steps to challenge and defeat the Manhattan DA’s lawless case,” he said.

Merchan scheduled Trump's sentencing for July 11. He has the discretion to impose a wide range of sanctions, ranging from probation and community service up to four years in prison.