Trump’s 'hush money' conviction stands, but no jail time
NEW YORK - President-elect Donald Trump received the first ever criminal sentencing for a former or incoming U.S. president on Friday. Trump was handed an "unconditional discharge” that means Trump will get no prison time or probation as he prepares to enter the White House for a second time on Jan. 20, USA Today reported.
"This has been a very terrible experience" and a "setback" for the New York court system, Trump told the judge overseeing his case minutes before his sentence was handed down.
Trump was convicted May 30th on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. The incoming president, who did not physically attend the sentencing, appeared via a remote video feed from South Florida.
After a 30-minute hearing, Judge Juan Merchan released Trump without any ongoing conditions, wishing him "Godspeed" in his second presidential term.
Trump suggests criminal case helped him win election
President-elect Donald Trump argued to Judge Juan Merchan that the American people "got to see" that he was unfairly indicted "firsthand," and after that they voted and he won the November election.
Trump added that he "won conclusively" all seven swing states as well as the popular vote in 2024, suggesting public perception of the case helped him at the polls.
The Trump trial lasted from April 15 to May 30 last year, coinciding with the conclusion of the Republican presidential primaries and the start of the 2024 general election campaign.
Judge Juan Merchan asked President-elect Donald Trump if he wanted to address the court and Trump said, "Yes," thanking Merchan.
"This has been a very terrible experience" and a "setback" for the New York court system, Trump said.
"It was very inappropriate. It was somebody involved with my political opponent," Trump added, appearing to suggest the case was politically motivated.
Trump argued that the business records at issue in the case were accurate, despite the jury's verdict that they were falsified to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. Trump said legal fees and legal expenses were "put down" as legal expenses by accountants, and for that he got indicted.
"It's incredible," Trump said.
Trump defense lawyer Todd Blanche briefly addressed Judge Merchan, saying he disputed prosecutor Joshua Steinglass' characterization of the criminal case and suggested it shouldn't have ever been brought.
Blanche agreed with Steinglass, however, that Merchan should impose an "unconditional discharge" sentence that would release Trump without any ongoing restrictions.