Donald Trump Might Have to Ask for Permission to Leave State

Donald Trump might have to ask for permission to leave the state of New York if he is sentenced to probation following his hush-money trial.

On May 30, Trump was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 hush-money payment made to the adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said the payment was meant to prevent Daniels from speaking publicly about an affair she said she had with the former president. Trump, who denied the affair and any wrongdoing, said the case was politically motivated. His lawyers have said they are appealing the guilty verdict.

Following the verdict, Judge Juan Merchan, who oversaw the case, scheduled the former president’s sentencing for July 11. Speculation has since mounted about what the Republican’s sentence may be. He could receive prison time, house arrest, a fine or probation—though legal experts have said it is unlikely Trump will be sent to jail.

Instead, he could be sentenced to probation, which would affect his ability to travel. Speaking to Newsweek, Matthew Mangino, a former district attorney in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, said “the court could limit or prohibit international travel” as part of its sentencing if the former president receives “supervised probation.”

Mangino said: “I expect him to receive at least supervised probation. The court has the right to permit travel domestically, but the court could limit or prohibit international travel. I don’t think jail is appropriate. Number one, he will become a martyr for the right. Second, these are low-level felonies, and he has no criminal history. I wouldn’t rule out home confinement. He did repeatedly violate the gag order and continues to pound the judge. Let’s just say Judge Merchan is not going to be happy to see Donald Trump again.”

However, Lance Fletcher, a Manhattan criminal defense attorney, told HuffPost he “would be shocked” by this outcome.

“I would be shocked if they gave him probation because of all the ways it could invite a legal showdown, including the fact that he’d have to ask permission to travel outside of New York,” he told the publication.

Newsweek has contacted representatives for Trump for comment by email.

In a statement previously emailed to Newsweek following the verdict, the former president called his conviction the “disgraceful” outcome of a “rigged trial.”

“I’m a very innocent man, and it’s OK,” Trump said, adding, “Our whole country is being rigged right now.”

He continued: “We don’t have the same country anymore. We have a divided mess. We’re a nation in decline, serious decline.”