Trump gets no jail time or penalties in sentence for hush money conviction
New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan on Jan. 10 gave President-elect Donald Trump an unconditional discharge in his sentencing in the business records case.
The verdict upholds Trump’s May conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records, connected to payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign.
While the sentence carries no additional penalties, the conviction remains on record as Trump prepares to take office on January 20.
Judge Merchan stressed that the trial followed standard legal procedures, despite the extraordinary circumstances.
In delivering the sentence, he stated, “Never before has this court been presented with such a unique and remarkable set of circumstances.”
He maintained that the presidency is an exceptional institution, but the trial itself was done like any other.
Meanwhile, it’s a largely symbolic sentence that means that Trump does not face any penalties beyond having a conviction entered in his legal record.
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Merchan declined to impose any term of imprisonment or fines. Instead, he chastised Trump for his conduct.
“It is the legal protections afforded to the office of the president of the United States that are extraordinary, not the occupant,” Merchan said as Trump listened during a virtual appearance.
Mr. Trump, who previously served as president from 2017 to 2021, was found guilty in late May on 34 counts of falsifying business documents related to hush-money payments made to Stormy Daniels, among other things.
Though, the US president-elect has denied any wrongdoing and said he plans to appeal his conviction.
