Donald Trump was questioned on Monday by a New York probation officer who will submit a report that might influence the sentence Trump receives for his hush money conviction.
The pre-sentence interview, which NBC News said lasted “less than thirty minutes,” comes a few month before Trump is scheduled to be convicted of a criminal offense as the primary former U.S. president and first major-party presidential candidate ever.
Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche was also present on the interview, which they watched via video from Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in Florida, in keeping with NBC News, which first reported the incident. Time of the proceedings after conviction.
A Trump campaign spokesman confirmed to CNBC that Monday's interview took place virtually and never in person.
The interview gave Blanche the chance to spotlight features of Trump's life that might potentially persuade Judge Juan Merchan to provide a more lenient sentence, similar to his age, his lack of criminal record or his family ties.
The criminal history report, which the probation officer submits after the interview, comprises recommendations for sentencing and may additionally include information from other individuals involved within the case.
Trump's sentencing is scheduled for July 11, and the deadline for his defense team to submit its own sentencing recommendations to the judge expires on Thursday.
The parole hearing comes as Trump's legal team prepares to challenge the May 30 verdict of a Manhattan Supreme Court jury that found Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records.
“President Trump and his legal team are already taking the necessary steps to challenge and overturn the Manhattan District Attorney's lawless case,” Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a press release to CNBC.
The New York jury concluded that Trump intended to commit, or no less than aided or abetted, an election crime when he falsified business records related to a plan to silence porn star Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 presidential election.
Under New York State law, falsifying business records in the primary degree is a Class E felony punishable by as much as 4 years in prison.
Legal experts have differing opinions on whether Trump's prosecutors are looking for a jail sentence or whether Merchan would impose one.
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