The Republican National Convention is being prepared to nominate Donald Trump next month whether or not the former president is able to attend because of his hush money conviction, according to a report.
Plans are being made in Mar-a-Lago, Trump's Florida home, and in Milwaukee, where the convention will be held starting on July 15, in case the former president is unable to attend and makes an appearance remotely, NBC News reported, citing sources.
If Trump is sentenced to home confinement, the report said, the RNC is creating a convention-themed stage at Mar-a-Lago and a huge screen at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
"If you look at what has been released about the stage at our convention, it's going to be the highest-tech stage ever," a Republican operative who has toured the convention site told NBC. "It will allow the campaign to utilize people not in Milwaukee to be projected into the hall."
The operative said the possibility of Trump being put on house arrest was not discussed during tours of the convention site, but people were informed that he could hold events from Mar-a-Lago.
The Trump campaign told the network that planning is underway to "highlight the party and officially designate President Trump's nomination."
"President Trump will be featured as an active part of this official event and celebration of our pathway to victory in November," senior adviser Brian Hughes told NBC News.
After the story was published Thursday, Hughes sent another statement.
"At no time has convention planning involved any option than President Trump in person to accept his formal nomination as president," it said.
Trump was found guilty May 30 of 34 counts of falsifying business records to disguise a $130,000 payment before the 2016 election to former porn star Stormy Daniels.
He is scheduled to be sentenced July 11, days before the convention gets underway, and faces a fine, probation or a jail sentence. Home confinement is also an option.
