Appearing virtually from his Mar-a-Lago residence on Friday, President-elect Donald Trump was sentenced in the New York “hush money” case and released with no restrictions.
Justice Juan Merchan upheld his prior commitment to grant Trump an unconditional discharge, citing it as the only lawful option given the proximity to his January 20 inauguration.
Merchan called the case “extraordinary” due to Trump’s position as president-elect but emphasized that the protections afforded to the presidency, not Trump himself, influenced the sentence. While those protections did not diminish the severity of Trump’s crimes or the jury’s verdict, Merchan determined that unconditional discharge was the only option that respected the office of the president. He noted that a private citizen in Trump’s position might not have received such leniency.
During the proceedings, Trump, seated alongside his attorney Todd Blanche, called the trial “a terrible experience” and labeled it a “political witch hunt” designed to tarnish his reputation. Trump insisted he was “totally innocent,” describing the case as an effort to punish him for labeling personal payments as legal expenses.
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass accused Trump of undermining public trust in the judicial system through attacks on the judiciary and prosecutors. He argued that Trump’s actions caused lasting damage to the rule of law and endangered court officers. However, Blanche countered by claiming that many Americans believed the case should never have been brought forward.
The case stemmed from a seven-week trial that concluded in May, where Trump was found guilty of 34 felonies for falsifying records to cover up reimbursements for a $130,000 “hush money” payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Daniels and Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen, who facilitated the payment, both testified during the trial. The payment was made just before the 2016 election to suppress allegations of an affair.
Despite the verdict, Trump and his legal team have vowed to appeal, with the Supreme Court recently refusing to intervene in the case. Trump’s sentencing concludes years of legal battles, but he remains unapologetic, calling the case politically motivated.
As the court proceedings ended, Justice Merchan wished Trump “Godspeed” as he prepared to assume his second term in office.
