Judge Juan Merchan sentenced President-elect Donald Trump on Friday to no jail time, probation, or fines after he was convicted by a jury of falsifying business records.
Merchan imposed a sentence of “unconditional discharge,” which does not penalize Trump but rather closes the case and clears the way for the president-elect to appeal his conviction, which Trump has said he plans to do.
The historic hearing, during which Trump appeared virtually, marked the first time in history that a former or incoming president has been sentenced for felonies. A jury found in May that he engaged in an unlawful hush money scheme ahead of the 2016 election to silence porn star Stormy Daniels about an alleged affair.
Merchan acknowledged the unprecedented nature of the event, saying that “never before has this court been presented with such a unique and remarkable set of circumstances.”
Trump criticized the justice system during his remote appearance, delivering familiar remarks that he believed the prosecution was a “political witch hunt” and that he was innocent.
“This has been a very terrible experience,” Trump said. “It has been a setback for New York and the New York court system.”
Trump’s attorneys fought aggressively to prevent the sentencing, seeking relief from appellate courts in New York and the U.S. Supreme Court. In a 5 to 4 decision, the Supreme Court declined to grant Trump’s emergency application to block the sentencing Thursday night, hours before it was scheduled to take place.
Prosecutors, led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, recommended no penalty because Trump was being sworn into office in a matter of days and any imposition of a tangible sentence could interfere with his transition duties or his official work as president.
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This story is developing.
