The president-elect was sentenced to an unconditional discharge by the New York judge who heard Donald Trump’s hush money case on Friday. This means that, although he is now a convicted felon under New York state law, he will not be subject to any additional punishments.
A somber Trump stated, “This has been a very terrible experience,” while addressing the judge virtually from his Florida residence.
He claimed that it was done to harm my reputation in order to cause me to lose the race. “I am completely innocent. He insisted, “I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Ten days before Trump is scheduled to take the oath of office as the 47th president of the United States, he was sentenced.
Before imposing his sentence, Judge Juan Merchan stated, “This court has never before been presented with such a unique and remarkable set of circumstances.” This case has been absolutely unique.
Merchan scheduled the hearing last week after Trump’s lawyers repeatedly requested a stay. Over the past week, they have unsuccessfully appealed to Merchan, two state appeals courts, and even the nation’s highest court. Late Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court, Trump’s final hope, ruled 5–4 against blocking the procedure.
Although Trump was found guilty on 34 felony counts carrying a sentence of one to four years in jail, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass advised the judge to grant him unconditional freedom due to the particulars of the case.
Steinglass stated that Trump has behaved as though he is above the law throughout the case, including by frequently verbally attacking the judge, prosecutors, and even their family members. He also said that we must show respect for the office of the presidency and keep in mind that this defendant will be sworn in as president in ten days.
“This defendant has caused enduring damage to the public perception of the criminal justice system,” he stated.
Todd Blanche, a Trump lawyer, retorted that the Manhattan district attorney’s office had overreached itself in the case. He stated that Steinglass’ stance presumes that this case is legally suitable and that the charges filed by the individuals were compliant with New York law. Once more, we strongly disagree with that.
According to Blanche, the district attorney who initiated this case undoubtedly made a vow to pursue President Trump if elected, and he was required to follow through on that pledge.
It’s a pretty depressing day. According to counsel, it’s a terrible day for this nation as well as for President Trump, his family, and his friends, Blanche said, adding that Trump intended to thoroughly appeal the case once the sentence was handed down.
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As a result of the sentencing, Trump will become the only president to have been sentenced on criminal charges, making him the second person to be sworn in for two nonconsecutive terms.
In comments to the media from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Thursday following the Supreme Court’s decision, Trump hinted at the potential for additional appeals, including an effort to challenge the verdict itself.
So tomorrow, I’ll do my tiny thing. According to him, they can enjoy themselves with their political rival.
Merchanin said he would probably grant Trump an unconditional discharge in a ruling last week that ordered the sentencing to begin.
However, he also attacked Trump for his actions during and after the trial, as well as the actions that resulted in his conviction in May.
“12 jurors unanimously found Defendant guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records with the intent to defraud, which included an intent to commit or conceal a conspiracy to promote a presidential election by unlawful means,” Merchan wrote in response to Trump’s argument last week that the charges weren’t serious and should be dismissed. The main element of this attack was the leader of the free world’s deliberate and persistent lying.
“To vacate this verdict on the grounds that the charges are insufficiently serious given the position Defendant once held, and is about to assume again, would constitute a disproportionate result and cause immeasurable damage to the citizenry’s confidence in the Rule of Law,” he stated.
He also criticized Trump for attacking the legal system.
It is public knowledge that the defendant despises the federal or state Third Branch of government, whether in New York or elsewhere. Defendant has, in fact, gone to considerable measures to publicly express his disrespect for juries, judges, grand juries, and the legal system in general on social media and other platforms,” Merchan wrote, adding that he had found Trump in contempt on multiple occasions for breaking his partial gag order in the case “despite repeated admonitions.”
According to him, Trump has persisted in calling the order “unlawful” and “unconstitutional,” despite the fact that “it has been challenged and upheld by the Appellate Division First Department and the New York Court of Appeals, no less than eight times.”
Indeed, as the defendant is undoubtedly aware, on December 9, 2024, the US Supreme Court upheld the identical Order. However, via posts to his millions of followers, the defendant keeps undermining its credibility,” Merchan added.
Even prosecutors “no longer view as a practicable recommendation” the death penalty, he said, despite the fact that it is “authorized by the conviction” and that Trump’s swearing-in is quickly approaching.
Despite what he said in his decision, Blanche indicated during an appeals court hearing this week that he was doubtful Merchan would grant Trump an unconditional release. The hearing was intended to block the sentencing.
Blanche remarked, “I’m not sure how anyone can give that any weight.”
“We believe that the sanctity of the jury verdict must be given primacy, must be upheld as part of the rule of law,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg told reporters Thursday. “But we’re also mindful of and respect the institution of the presidency.”
Charges that Trump fabricated hush money-related business records led to his conviction.Stormy Daniels, a porn star, was given by his former lawyer Michael Cohen in the final days of the 2016 presidential campaign.
Trump has refuted Daniels’ testimony that she had a sexual encounter with him in 2006.
The case was the only one that proceeded to trial out of the four criminal cases that Trump was dealing with at the start of 2024.
An appeals court order that removed Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and her staff from the case last month has put a halt to a state case accusing Trump of meddling in the 2020 Georgia election.
Citing the Office of Legal Counsel’s ruling that it cannot bring charges against a sitting president, the Justice Department dismissed two federal cases that special counsel Jack Smith had launched after Trump won the election.