George Washington University Law School professor Jonathan Turley, a Fox News contributor and renowned legal scholar, shredded Judge Juan Merchan’s decision to sentence President-elect Donald Trump in his Manhattan case 10 days before his inauguration.

“Judge Merchan just set Trump for a sentencing shortly before his inauguration. As some of us predicted, he is indicating that he will impose an unconditional discharge without jail or probation,” he said on X. “The sentence will finalize the case and allow for an appeal.”

Turley added that it will give the anti-Trump media a final talking point for Inauguration Day.

The legal scholar said that finalizing the case will officially label Trump “a convicted felon just before he is sworn into office,” which he said was “the final cathartic act for lawfare warriors.”

“Merchan will supply the talking point for the inauguration coverage as reporters repeat the mantra of the historic status of Trump being sworn in as a convicted felon,” Turley continued.

“We will also finally be able to see an appeal of his case. While there are low expectations for the New York court system, the sentencing will allow the full array of alleged errors by Merchan to be placed before appellate judges,” he said.

Trump issued a fiery response to the sentencing announcement on TruthSocial.

“Every Legal Scholar and Pundit, including the highly respected, and sadly recently passed, David Rivkin, as well as Jonathan Turley, Elie Honig, Andy McCarthy, Alan Dershowitz, Gregg Jarrett, Elizabeth Price Foley, Katie and Andy Cherkasky, Paul Ingrassia, and many others, have unequivocally stated that the Manhattan D.A.’s Witch Hunt is a nonexistent case, which is not only barred by the Statute of Limitations but, on the merits, should never have been brought,” the president-elect said.

“This illegitimate political attack is nothing but a Rigged Charade. ‘Acting’ Justice Merchan, who is a radical partisan, just issued another order that is knowingly unlawful, goes against our Constitution and, if allowed to stand, would be the end of the Presidency as we know it,” he said.

“Merchan has so little respect for the Constitution that he is keeping in place an illegal gag order on me, your President and President Elect, just so I cannot expose his and his family’s disqualifying and illegal conflicts. I am the only Political Opponent in American History not allowed to defend myself – A despicable First Amendment Violation!” he said.