President-elect Donald Trump was sentenced on Friday in a case involving hush money payments but received no punishment from the court.
Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan opted for an unconditional discharge, finalizing Trump’s felony conviction without imposing a fine or jail time.
The decision allows Trump to return to the White House without legal constraints hanging over his presidency.
The sentencing concludes a highly publicized case in which Trump faced 34 felony charges related to falsified business records.
After nearly two months of trial, a jury found him guilty on all counts.
However, despite the conviction and the sordid revelations of a scheme to silence affair allegations, voters elected Trump to a second term.
Judge Merchan explained that his decision was influenced by constitutional concerns, given Trump’s imminent presidency.
While acknowledging the severity of the case, Merchan emphasized that Trump’s position as president afforded him unique legal protections.
“These protections, though broad, do not erase the jury’s verdict,” he said.
Appearing virtually from his Florida home, Trump denounced the case as a politically motivated attack designed to undermine his candidacy.
“It’s been a political witch hunt,” Trump stated, calling the case “an embarrassment to New York.” He maintained his innocence, insisting, “I never falsified business records.”
Prosecutors supported the no-penalty sentence but criticized Trump for his ongoing attacks on the judicial system.
Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass accused Trump of undermining the legitimacy of the legal process and fostering public distrust.
The case centred on allegations that Trump orchestrated a $130,000 payment to adult film actor Stormy Daniels during his 2016 campaign to suppress claims of an affair, which Trump denies.
Prosecutors argued the payment was part of a broader effort to influence the election.
Trump’s legal team countered that the payment was intended to protect his family, not his campaign.
Merchants ruling marks a historic moment as Trump becomes the first individual convicted of a felony to assume the presidency.
The judge noted that the unconditional discharge—rare in felony cases—was intended to avoid constitutional complications while upholding the jury’s decision.
The case also faced delays due to legal challenges, with Trump’s lawyers arguing presidential immunity and seeking to dismiss the charges.
Efforts to postpone sentencing were ultimately rejected by the Supreme Court in a narrow 5-4 ruling.
While Trump’s other legal battles have stalled or been dismissed, this case remains a notable chapter in his political career.
Despite the conviction, Trump’s return to the Oval Office signals a unique and contentious moment in American history.