Former President Donald Trump is set to undergo a probation interview on Monday, as a required step before his sentencing in his criminal hush money case in New York. According to three anonymous sources familiar with the plan, Trump will participate in the interview via a computer video conference from his residence at the Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida.

Typically, individuals convicted of crimes in New York meet with probation officials without their lawyers present. However, in Trump's case, Judge Juan Merchan has allowed his lawyer, Todd Blanche, to be present during the interview, as stated in a letter on Friday.

The purpose of the pre-sentencing probation interview is to gather information about the defendant, which can help determine an appropriate punishment for the crime. Usually, probation officers, social workers, or psychologists working for the probation department conduct these interviews. They may interview the defendant, their family and friends, as well as individuals affected by the crime. The information collected will be used to prepare a presentence report that includes the defendant's personal history, criminal record, and recommendations for sentencing. It also provides an opportunity for the defendant to present any mitigating factors that may warrant a lighter punishment.

Trump was convicted by a jury of falsifying business records at his own company as part of a scheme to silence individuals who could potentially disclose embarrassing stories during the 2016 presidential campaign. One of the recipients of a $130,000 payment was Stormy Daniels, a porn actor who claimed to have had a sexual encounter with Trump, an allegation that he denied.

Trump continues to maintain his innocence and argues that the criminal case was politically motivated to harm his chances of regaining the White House. In a statement, his campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, criticized the ongoing investigations by President Joe Biden's Democratic Party allies, accusing them of abusing their power and interfering in the presidential election.

Judge Merchan has scheduled Trump's sentencing for July 11, where he will have the discretion to impose a wide range of punishments, including probation, community service, or up to four years in prison. As Trump's legal team prepares to challenge the case, the former president remains focused on fighting the charges brought against him.