Newsman: President-elect Donald Trump received the first ever ‘criminal sentencing’ for a former or incoming U.S. president, an “unconditional discharge” on Friday . Trump will get no prison time or probation as he prepares to enter the White House for a second time on Jan. 20.
“This has been a very terrible experience” and a “setback” for the New York court system, Trump told the judge overseeing his case minutes before his sentence was handed down.
In brief remarks to President-elect Donald Trump, Judge Juan Merchan said the proper sentence for the real estate mogul, taking everything into account, is an unconditional discharge. That sentence means Trump won’t face jail time, community service, or even supervision in New York.
Merchan had indicated even before the sentencing that he was likely to impose the lax punishment, taking into account Trump’s upcoming presidency. The prosecution and Trump’s defense team both recommended that sentence.
“Sir, I wish you Godspeed as you assume your second term,” Merchan said.
With that, the brief sentencing proceedings – they lasted about 30 minutes – concluded.
After a 30-minute hearing, Judge Juan Merchan released Trump without any ongoing conditions, wishing him “Godspeed” in his second presidential term.
Continuing to address Judge Merchan, President-elect Trump criticized the New York hush money case, which was the only one of his four criminal cases to go to trial before his November election victory.
Trump was convicted May 30 on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. The incoming president, who did not physically attend the sentencing, appeared via a remote video feed from South Florida.
Trump pointed to broad national and international challenges, suggesting the New York case was comparatively trivial.
With our largest and most important cities “burning to the ground,” Trump said, he got indicted for calling a legal expense a legal expense. The jury concluded Trump had falsified business records to mischaracterize repaying his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, for a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election.
The president-elect also described wars, inflation problems, and other “horrible things going on” as he faced the New York criminal charges for which he is now convicted.
Judge Juan Merchan asked President-elect Donald Trump if he wanted to address the court and Trump said, “Yes,” thanking Merchan.
“This has been a very terrible experience” and a “setback” for the New York court system, Trump said.
“It was very inappropriate. It was somebody involved with my political opponent,” Trump added, appearing to suggest the case was politically motivated.
President-elect Donald Trump argued to Judge Juan Merchan that the American people “got to see” that he was unfairly indicted “firsthand,” and after that they voted and he won the November election.
Trump added that he “won conclusively” all seven swing states as well as the popular vote in 2024, suggesting public perception of the case helped him at the polls.
Trump argued that the business records at issue in the case were accurate, despite the jury’s verdict that they were falsified to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. Trump said legal fees and legal expenses were “put down” as legal expenses by accountants, and for that he got indicted.
“It’s incredible,” Trump said.
Trump defense lawyer Todd Blanche briefly addressed Judge Merchan, saying he disputed prosecutor Joshua Steinglass’ characterization of the criminal case and suggested it shouldn’t have ever been brought.
Blanche agreed with Steinglass, however, that Merchan should impose an “unconditional discharge” sentence that would release Trump without any ongoing restrictions.
Despite outlining what he alleged was Trump’s disrespect for the rule of law, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass recommended Judge Juan Merchan impose an “unconditional discharge” sentence against the president-elect, which would mean Trump doesn’t face any ongoing conditions as a result of his sentence.
The recommendation matches the sentence Merchan has already indicated he’s inclined to impose following Trump’s November election victory and upcoming presidential duties.
Still, Steinglass argued that Trump has inflicted “enduring damage to public perception of the criminal justice system” through his attacks on the case and those involved in it. Steinglass alleged that Trump has placed court officers in harm’s way.
Queens resident Michael Li, 76, clutched a corner while facing the courthouse. Sporting a red “Make America Great Again” cap and a National Rifle Association backpack, he traveled by bus and train for two hours to support the president, he said.
“Trump never broke the law,” he said, calling the proceedings communist and fascist. “It’s a shame.”
