Trump Receives No Penalties in New York Hush Money Case
President-elect Donald Trump will face no jail time or financial penalties in his New York hush money case, as the judge presiding over the trial issued an unconditional discharge on Friday.
"The Radical Democrats have lost another pathetic, unAmerican Witch Hunt," Trump posted on Truth Social after attending the 40-minute, virtual sentencing. "Today's event was a despicable charade, and now that it is over, we will appeal this Hoax, which has no merit, and restore the trust of Americans in our once great System of Justice."
Judge Juan Merchan's ruling of an unconditional discharge, a move that carries no punishment, follows months-long speculation over the implications of convicting a former or incoming president. The judge pushed back the sentencing date for months as he weighed whether a conviction would withstand the Supreme Court's ruling last summer on broad presidential immunity.
Trump and his allies have sharply criticized Merchan, with the president-elect describing the judge as "corrupt."
Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, charged Trump in March 2023 with 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. A Manhattan jury last May found Trump guilty on all counts.
Following his victory in last year's presidential election, Trump sought to halt his sentencing at least until after his second term. The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected Trump's final bid to delay the sentencing, though four justices said they would grant the request.
Trump, who is set to take office on January 20, will be the first president with a criminal conviction.
"Sir, I wish you Godspeed as you assume your second term in office," Merchan told the president-elect on Friday.
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