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President-elect Donald Trump was sentenced without penalties Friday in a New York criminal case involving hush money payments. The ruling came just ten days before his inauguration for a second term as president. Manhattan Judge Juan Merchan imposed an “unconditional discharge,” a sentence that involves no jail time, probation, or fines.
Judge Merchan had the authority to sentence the 78-year-old Republican to up to four years in prison after his conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Instead, Merchan chose a resolution that avoided potential constitutional challenges while allowing Trump to assume the presidency, making him the first convicted felon to hold the office.
In his remarks, Merchan emphasized his obligation to weigh aggravating factors, but acknowledged that Trump’s legal protections as president-elect were a “factor that overrides all others.” Merchan added, “Despite the extraordinary breadth of those legal protections, one power they do not provide is that they do not erase a jury verdict.”
The case, formally known as The People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump, stems from allegations that Trump falsified business records to conceal $130,000 in payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign. Prosecutors argued the payments were made to suppress information about an alleged sexual encounter between Trump and Daniels, thus influencing the election outcome.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged that Trump falsified these records with the intent to commit crimes, including violations of federal campaign finance laws, tax fraud, and efforts to influence the election. The charges marked the first criminal indictment of a former U.S. president and culminated in a May 2024 trial.
During the proceedings, the prosecution called 20 witnesses, including Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen, who facilitated the payments. Cohen testified that he used funds from his home equity line of credit and was later reimbursed by Trump through falsified legal retainer agreements. Prosecutors argued these actions were part of a coordinated effort to conceal the payments.
The defense countered that Trump was unaware of any wrongdoing, characterized Cohen as an unreliable witness, and insisted the payments were legitimate legal expenses. Trump’s legal team also sought unsuccessfully to have the case dismissed, delay proceedings, or transfer the trial to federal court.
On May 30, 2024, Trump was convicted on all 34 counts, becoming the first U.S. president to be convicted of a felony. The trial was further complicated by Trump’s ongoing campaign for the presidency and his repeated comments about the case, which led to a criminal contempt ruling against him in April 2024.
Following delays due to the 2024 election and constitutional concerns surrounding the sentencing of a president-elect, Merchan scheduled the hearing for January 10, 2025. The judge’s decision to impose an unconditional discharge effectively closed the case while upholding the jury’s verdict.
Trump’s legal team has indicated plans to appeal the conviction. Meanwhile, the case adds to Trump’s controversial legacy as he prepares to assume office for a second term.
