Trump Sentenced To ‘Unconditional Discharge’ For Hush Money Conviction

Despite the US president-elect’s last-ditch efforts to avoid becoming the first felon to hold the White House, a judge on Friday handed Donald Trump an unconditional discharge for bribing him with hush money payments to a porn star.

Even though Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records on 34 counts in May of that year, the judge spared him jail or a fine.

Instead, judge Juan Merchan of New York issued the comparatively unheard of unconditional discharge, the mildest form of criminal punishment available.

“Never before has this court been presented with such a unique and remarkable set of circumstances”, said Merchan.

An unconditional discharge is the only lawful sentence that does not interfere with the highest office in the country.

Trump actually witnessed his sentencing, with the judge, lawyers, and media gathered inside the squab New York courtroom, which served as the setting for the trial’s high drama, legal wrangling, and vitriolic personal attacks by the divisive Republican.

Donald Trump and attorney Todd Blanche (L) appear in court on January 10, 2025 in New York, on a television screen, after being found guilty on 34 felonies in his hush money criminal trial last year. (Photo by Jabin Botsford / POOL / AFP)

“This has been a very terrible experience. Before the discharge was approved, Trump said, “I think it’s been a huge setback for New York and the New York court system.”

“It was done to damage my reputation, so I would lose the election”.

The former president was seen on television in the courtroom while two large US flags were flying in front of him, and he was seen watching impatiently while the brief proceeding proceeded in a red tie with white stripes.

Prosecutors Joshua Steinglass and Joshua Steinglass stated that Trump had been found guilty of “premeditated and continuous deception” prior to the sentencing.

“The verdict in this case was unanimous and decisive and it must be respected”, he said.

Trump was forced to watch as a number of witnesses testified that he had defrauded porn star Stormy Daniels of his payments in an effort to prevent her from disclosing their relationship before the 2016 presidential election, which he ultimately won.

After a New York State appeals court disregarded his request for the hearing to be delayed, Trump had requested that the criminal proceedings be suspended.

However, the Supreme Court upheld the sentencing’s decision.

Ten days before Trump is scheduled to take the oath of office, prosecution members objected, claiming it was inappropriate for the apex court to hear the case when the mogul still had New York’s avenues of appeal.

– First conviction of the president

Trump’s infamy as the first former president to be found guilty of a felony is supported by an unconditional discharge, which is a measure without restrictions or sanctions that does not support the jury’s verdict.

The 78-year-old Trump had potentially faced up to four years in prison.

“He’s sticking his middle finger at the judge, the jury, the system of justice, and laughing”, said Pace University law professor and former prosecutor Bennett Gershman ahead of the sentencing.

Trump supporters held a massive banner outside the courthouse with the name of their idol, which was swept up by strong winds. Behind a hoarding reading “Trump is guilty,” there was also a small vigil of anti-Trump demonstrators.

Trump’s attorney had argued that the Republican should have filed an appeal against his conviction, but Associate Justice of New York Ellen Gesmer rejected that argument on Tuesday.

Trump has repeatedly referred to the prosecution as a “witch hunt,” which Steinglass claimed was “designed to have a chilling effect.”

The career prosecutor claimed that “this defendant has seriously damaged the public’s perception of the criminal justice system.”

Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche said he “very, very much disagree with much of what the (prosecution) just said”.

Source: Channels TV