US President-elect Donald Trump will not face jail time or fines due to his criminal conviction related to hush money payments made to an adult film actress, according to a judge’s ruling. However, the sentencing will leave a mark of guilt on his record.
Justice Juan Merchan’s decision to impose an unconditional discharge on Mr. Trump, 78, brings closure to a case that had overshadowed his campaign to reclaim the presidency just days before his inauguration on January 20.
By issuing an unconditional discharge, Justice Merchan ensures that a judgment of guilt will remain on Mr. Trump’s permanent record, without imposing any further legal penalties such as imprisonment, fines, or probation.
“This court has never encountered such a unique and extraordinary set of circumstances,” remarked Justice Merchan.
Donald Trump said the case had been a ‘terrible experience’
Mr. Trump, who entered a not guilty plea and plans to appeal the guilty verdict, is the first US president to assume office with a criminal conviction.
Participating virtually from Florida alongside his lawyer Todd Blanche, with two American flags behind him on courtroom screens, Mr. Trump declared his innocence and insisted he did nothing wrong.
“It’s been a political witch hunt,” Mr. Trump stated, sporting a red and white striped tie.
“It was intended to tarnish my reputation to ensure I would lose the election, and obviously, that didn’t succeed,” he asserted.
“I am completely innocent; I did nothing wrong,” said Mr. Trump, who refrained from testifying during the six-week trial last year.
He expressed that the case had been a “terrible experience” during his sentencing.
This hearing, mere days before his inauguration on January 20, marks the conclusion of a case that had influenced his successful bid to reclaim the presidency.
Justice Merchan, who presided over the six-week trial, previously indicated that he did not intend to imprison Mr. Trump or impose a fine.
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Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass stated that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office supported Justice Merchan’s sentence.
“Prior to his inauguration, the most sensible sentence is an unconditional discharge,” Mr. Steinglass remarked, adding that any other sentence could hinder Mr. Trump’s capacity to fulfill his responsibilities.
However, Mr. Steinglass emphasized that the jury’s unanimous guilty verdict must be upheld, solidifying Mr. Trump’s status as a convicted felon as he awaits his appeal.
“This defendant has inflicted lasting damage to the public’s perception of the criminal justice system,” Mr. Steinglass said.
Mr. Trump was convicted of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels
Todd Blanche, Mr. Trump’s attorney, disagreed with Mr. Steinglass’ assessment.
“We certainly intend to appeal,” Mr. Blanche declared. “This case should never have been brought legally.”
Mr. Steinglass also asserted that Mr. Trump had been part of a coordinated effort to undermine the case’s legitimacy, deliberately fostering contempt for judicial institutions and the rule of law.
First presidential conviction
An unconditional discharge serves as a measure devoid of any sanctions or restrictions while still affirming the jury’s guilty verdict—marking Mr. Trump’s notoriety as the first former president convicted of a felony.
The 78-year-old Trump potentially faced a maximum sentence of four years in prison.
“He’s giving a middle finger to the judge, the jury, and the justice system while laughing,” commented Pace University law professor and former prosecutor Bennett Gershman, prior to the sentencing.
Outside the courthouse, Trump supporters displayed a massive banner bearing their idol’s name, which fluttered in the strong winds.
Donald Trump supporters outside the Manhattan Criminal Court
Contrastingly, a small group of anti-Trump demonstrators held a vigil behind a sign reading “Trump is guilty.”
Mr. Trump’s legal team argued for a delay in sentencing while the Republican appealed his conviction, but this motion was denied by New York state Associate Justice Ellen Gesmer on Tuesday.
Mr. Trump consistently referred to the prosecution as a “witch hunt,” which Steinglass indicated was “designed to have a chilling effect.”
“This defendant has caused lasting damage to public confidence in the criminal justice system,” stated the prosecutor.
Mr. Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche expressed strong disagreement with much of the prosecution’s statement.
On Monday, Mr. Trump was certified as the winner of the 2024 presidential election, four years after his supporters rioted at the US Capitol in an attempt to overturn his 2020 loss.
34 counts of falsifying business records
In March 2023, Mr. Bragg, a Democrat, charged Mr. Trump, a Republican, with 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment made by his former attorney Michael Cohen to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, who claimed to have had a sexual encounter with Mr. Trump prior to the 2016 election, a claim Mr. Trump denied.
Mr. Trump won against Democrat Hillary Clinton in that election. Critics of the businessman-turned-politician cited these charges and others to argue that he was unqualified for public office.
Mr. Trump countered by claiming that this case, along with three other criminal indictments and civil lawsuits alleging fraud, defamation, and sexual abuse, was a politically motivated effort by adversaries to use the justice system against him and undermine his reelection campaign.
During the trial, Justice Merchan sanctioned Mr. Trump with a $10,000 fine for breaching a gag order. The Manhattan jury found Mr. Trump guilty of all 34 counts on May 30. Prosecutors contended that, despite the scandalous nature of the allegations, the case aimed to corrupt the 2016 election.
As recently as January 3, Mr. Trump labeled the judge a “radical partisan” in a post on his Truth Social platform.
In a ruling that day, Justice Merchan asserted that overturning the verdict would “undermine the Rule of Law in immeasurable ways” and noted that Mr. Trump’s conduct during the trial demonstrated a lack of respect for the judiciary.
“The defendant has gone to considerable lengths to publicize his disdain for judges, juries, grand juries, and the justice system in general,” stated Justice Merchan.
