Trump Escapes Jail and Fines in NY Hush Money Sentencing

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump received a sentence Friday in connection with his New York hush money case, marking a historic moment as he becomes the only current and former U.S. president with a criminal record.

Trump’s legal troubles have included four criminal prosecutions, but the New York case was the only one to reach trial. A jury found him guilty in May on 34 counts of felony for falsifying business records related to a $130,000 reimbursement to his attorney, which was used to pay off a porn star prior to the 2016 election.

Justice Juan Merchan sentenced Trump to an “unconditional discharge,” which means he will face no jail time or fines. However, this ruling leaves a significant mark on Trump’s legal history just ten days before he assumes office as the 47th president.

During the virtual sentencing from his Mar-a-Lago estate, Trump proclaimed his innocence and labeled the legal payments as “legal expenses.” He expressed grievances about what he termed a politically motivated investigation by the federal government. “It’s been a political witch hunt that was done to damage my reputation so that I’d lose the election, and obviously that didn’t work,” Trump stated, as shared by C-SPAN audio.

Merchan deemed the case “extraordinary” but emphasized that standard legal procedures were followed, leading to the jury’s verdict. After detailing the sentence, he wished Trump well in his upcoming term. Notably, Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, has been nominated to serve as the next deputy attorney general.

Despite Trump’s last-minute plea to the Supreme Court to halt the sentencing, the request was ultimately denied just prior to the session. Reports revealed that Trump reached out to Justice Alito hours before his application, though Alito clarified that their conversation did not pertain to the case.

The brief sentencing session, which lasted under 30 minutes, did not stop Trump from continuing his preparations for the presidency. He was scheduled to host members of the House Freedom Caucus on the same day, signifying his commitment to moving forward with his agenda.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump described the sentencing as a “scam” and a “despicable charade,” vowing to appeal the decision—an endeavor that could extend over several years. He asserted, “The real Jury, the American People, have spoken, by Re-Electing me with an overwhelming MANDATE.” This claim stands in contrast to the legal jury that convicted him, which also comprised American citizens.

Trump has argued against his conviction based on a Supreme Court ruling that suggests former presidents enjoy immunity for actions taken while in office. Merchan rejected this defense, stating that the trial focused on issues unrelated to Trump’s official conduct, which does not qualify for immunity protection.

Amid these challenges, Trump is also engaged in another legal battle regarding the release of a report by special counsel Jack Smith, which details federal charges against him for allegedly mishandling classified documents and attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Despite Trump’s efforts to block the report’s release, a federal appeals court has largely denied his requests, maintaining only limited protections for parts involving classified information.

Last updated 10:20 a.m., Jan. 10, 2025