President-elect Donald Trump was sentenced to an unconditional discharge Friday in a New York court, avoiding jail time and fines in a hush money case that has made him the first person convicted of a felony to assume the U.S. presidency. The historic ruling comes just ten days before Trump is set to be inaugurated for a second term in the White House.
The sentencing caps a legal saga that began with Trump's May conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. The charges stemmed from a $130,000 payment made by Trump's then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, to porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016 to silence claims of an alleged sexual encounter a decade earlier-claims Trump has consistently denied.
Manhattan Judge Juan Merchan, who delivered the sentence, emphasized that constitutional considerations regarding Trump's impending presidency influenced his decision. The protection of that office is "a factor that overrides all others," Merchan said during the hearing. "Donald Trump, the ordinary citizen, Donald Trump the criminal defendant, would not be entitled to such considerable protections."
Appearing virtually from his Florida home, Trump criticized the case as a political attack designed to harm his reputation. "This has been a very terrible experience," he said, calling the trial "a political witch hunt" aimed at derailing his political ambitions.
The sentence of unconditional discharge means Trump will face no further penalties, including jail time, probation, or fines. Prosecutors, despite having the option to seek up to four years of prison for each count, did not oppose the lenient outcome.
"We must be respectful of the office of the presidency and mindful of the fact that this defendant will be inaugurated as president in ten days," said prosecutor Joshua Steinglass, who nonetheless condemned Trump's conduct during the trial. "The once and future President of the United States has engaged in a coordinated campaign to undermine its legitimacy," Steinglass said, adding that Trump's public attacks had caused "enduring damage to the public perception of the criminal justice system."
Trump's defense attorney, Todd Blanche, argued that the case should never have been brought to trial. "Legally, this case should not have been brought," Blanche said, reiterating Trump's intent to appeal the verdict. He described the outcome as a "sad day" for Trump and the nation.
Despite the courtroom tensions, Trump declared victory on social media shortly after the sentencing. "The Radical Democrats have lost another pathetic, unAmerican Witch Hunt," Trump wrote on Truth Social. He asserted that the penalty-free sentence proved the case lacked merit, a claim Merchan refuted by stating his ruling was based on constitutional considerations, not the strength of the evidence.
The U.S. Supreme Court played a critical role in clearing the path for Friday's sentencing. In a 5-4 decision issued Thursday night, the Court rejected Trump's request to delay proceedings, with Justice Amy Coney Barrett joining Chief Justice John Roberts and three liberal justices in the majority.
The case, while resolved, leaves Trump as a polarizing figure. Outside the courthouse, supporters and critics clashed. One group displayed signs reading "Trump is guilty," while another countered with banners demanding an end to what they called "partisan conspiracies."
The hush money case is among several legal challenges Trump has faced. Federal prosecutions over his handling of classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 election were recently closed without trial. Meanwhile, a Georgia election interference case has stalled after the removal of the prosecutor overseeing it.
As Trump prepares to return to the presidency, Judge Merchan underscored the importance of accountability in his closing remarks. "No one is above the law," he said, while acknowledging the unique circumstances surrounding Trump's position as president-elect.
