Former President Donald Trump is set to be interviewed by New York probation officials as part of the pre-sentencing process for his criminal hush money case. The interview, which will be conducted via a computer video conference, is scheduled to take place on Monday at Trump's residence in the Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, according to anonymous sources familiar with the plan.

In a departure from the norm, one of Trump's lawyers, Todd Blanche, will be present during the interview. Typically, individuals convicted of crimes in New York meet with probation officials without legal representation. However, Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing Trump's case, stated in a letter on Friday that he will allow Blanche's presence.

The purpose of the pre-sentencing probation interview is to gather information about the defendant, offering insights into their personal history, criminal record, employment, and family obligations that might influence the appropriate punishment. Reports are usually prepared by probation officers, social workers, or psychologists who conduct interviews with the defendant, their family and friends, as well as individuals affected by the crime.

Trump was found guilty by a jury of falsifying business records in connection with a scheme to silence individuals who might have revealed embarrassing stories about him during the 2016 presidential campaign. One such payment, amounting to $130,000, was made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, who claimed to have had a sexual encounter with Trump. The former President has consistently denied these allegations and maintains his innocence.

His campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, released a statement expressing dissatisfaction with the ongoing legal proceedings, stating that Trump's legal team is already taking steps to challenge and defeat the case. Cheung also claimed that the criminal charges were politically motivated and aimed at damaging Trump's chances of returning to the White House.

Judge Merchan has scheduled Trump's sentencing for July 11, at which point he will have the discretion to impose a range of punishments, from probatio