NEW YORK — A New York judge on Friday sentenced President-elect Donald Trump to an “unconditional discharge” in his hush money case, meaning he is now legally a convicted felon under New York state law but will face no further penalties. The sentencing, which comes just 10 days before Trump is set to be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, marks the conclusion of a legal battle that has drawn significant attention.
“This has been a very terrible experience,” Trump said remotely from his Florida residence when given the opportunity to address the court. “It was done to damage my reputation so I would lose the election,” he continued, maintaining his innocence. “I did nothing wrong.”
Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over the case, acknowledged the unprecedented nature of the situation before handing down the sentence. “Never before has this court been presented with such a unique and remarkable set of circumstances,” Merchan remarked. “This has been a truly extraordinary case.”
The judge explained that the decision to issue an unconditional discharge was based on Trump’s upcoming status as president, citing the immunity and legal protections afforded to him by virtue of his office. “This is the only lawful sentence that permits entry of a judgment of conviction without encroaching upon the highest office in the land,” Merchan said.
The ruling, however, is not without controversy. Trump’s legal team had attempted to delay the proceedings, appealing to multiple courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. Their efforts were unsuccessful, with the Supreme Court ruling 5-4 late Thursday to allow the sentencing to proceed.
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass noted that Trump had been convicted on 34 felony counts, each carrying a potential sentence of one to four years in prison. However, in light of the exceptional circumstances, Steinglass recommended an “unconditional release” sentence.
Following the ruling, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to criticize the outcome. “That result alone proves that, as all Legal Scholars and Experts have said, THERE IS NO CASE, THERE WAS NEVER A CASE, and this whole Scam fully deserves to be DISMISSED,” Trump wrote.
The decision marks the end of the legal proceedings in this case, but the ramifications of Trump’s conviction remain to be seen as he prepares for his presidential inauguration.
