Trump avoids prison sentence after hush money conviction

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Donald Trump was handed an unconditional discharge on Friday by a New York judge, avoiding a prison sentence despite his conviction for covering up hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

The former president’s last-minute attempts to avoid becoming the first felon in the White House were unsuccessful, but the judge spared him both jail time and fines, even though the 34 charges of falsifying business records, for which he was convicted in May 2024, carried potential prison sentences.

Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over the case, opted for an unconditional discharge—one of the lightest criminal sanctions available.

In an unusual decision, Merchan explained that this was the only lawful sentence that would allow Trump to maintain his status without infringing on the sanctity of the presidency.

Trump attended the sentencing virtually, as a packed courtroom in Manhattan witnessed the proceedings unfold.

The trial had already been a highly charged spectacle, marked by legal disputes and personal attacks by the divisive Republican figure.

In his virtual appearance, Trump, dressed in a red tie with white stripes, appeared with two large American flags behind him as the brief hearing concluded.

Before the discharge was passed, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass emphasized the severity of Trump’s actions, calling them a “premeditated and continuous deception.”

He noted that the verdict was “unanimous and decisive” and should be respected. During the trial, testimony revealed that Trump had orchestrated a cover-up of payments made to Daniels before the 2016 presidential election, aimed at preventing her from revealing their affair.

Trump had hoped to delay the proceedings, but his request was blocked by the Supreme Court, which allowed the sentencing to move forward.

Prosecutors opposed his request for a delay, arguing that it was improper for the high court to intervene, as he still had avenues of appeal in New York.

The decision to grant an unconditional discharge leaves Trump with a conviction on his record but no immediate legal consequences. The 78-year-old had faced up to four years in prison.

Law experts, such as Pace University law professor Bennett Gershman, suggested that Trump’s actions following the sentencing could be seen as an insult to the justice system.

Outside the courthouse, Trump’s supporters gathered under a large banner bearing his name, while a smaller group of anti-Trump demonstrators stood behind a sign reading “Trump is guilty.”

The US President-elect’s legal team had called for the sentencing to be delayed pending his appeal, but New York State Associate Justice Ellen Gesmer rejected that request.

Meanwhile, Trump continued to call the case a “witch hunt,” and his lawyer, Todd Blanche, strongly disagreed with much of the prosecution’s statements.

This sentencing comes just days after he was certified as the winner of the 2024 presidential election, four years after his supporters stormed the US Capitol to overturn the 2020 election results.