President-elect Donald Trump was handed an unconditional discharge sentence after he was convicted of falsifying business records to coverup a past affair with an adult film star, and many critics are crying foul.

The sentence handed down by Judge Juan Merchan to Trump means that he will not face jail time nor will he be forced to pay a fine for his crimes.

The fact that Trump got no real punishment despite being a convicted felon angered many legal experts and political observers who declared it an indictment of the American justice system.

"Sentencing Trump to an unconditional discharge means that yes, he can basically shoot somebody on Fifth Avenue and get away with it," wrote Democratic attorney Adam Cohen on BlueSky. "It means that -- if you’re rich and powerful enough -- you can get away with anything It means the American justice system has utterly failed us."

ALSO READ: 'That's serious': Ex-judge promises Trump's sentence isn't a 'slap on the wrist'

Attorney Marc Elis criticized prosecutors at the Manhattan District Attorney's Office for caving and asking for an unconditional discharge instead of a real punishment.

"Everyone is acting like a sentence if unconditional discharge is normal or that prosecutors asking for that doesn't also cause 'damage to the public perception of the criminal justice system,'" he complained.

Attorney Sheryl Weikal used the Trump sentence to highlight disparities in the American criminal justice system.

"Huh gee I've *never* had a prosecutor recommend, or a judge issue, a sentence of Unconditional discharge to any of my clients," she commented on BlueSky.

Cato Institute scholar Andy Craig marveled that, as a convicted felon, Trump now "isn't legally allowed to own a gun" but will nonetheless be "given nuclear weapons" in just ten days.

Historian Eric Rauchway tried his best to make light of the Trump sentence and joked on BlueSky that "If you experience 'unconditional discharge' see a doctor."

Mary Trump, the president-elect's niece and longtime critic, was not in the mood for humor, however, and simply wrote on X, "SMDH."

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The draft is three weeks away now. GM Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson have pieced together an off-season that is earning widespread praise across the league. The question is whether they can stick the landing with their 1st round pick in the draft. Current projections have the top three picks likely being a mix of Cam Ward, Travis Hunter, and Abdul Carter. After that, it gets tricky. People in Chicago want to know where running back Ashton Jeanty will end once the dust settles.

Widespread belief has been that the Las Vegas Raiders are the heavy favorites to take him at 6th overall, with New Orleans at #9 also being a possibility. It makes sense. Las Vegas’ best option right now is a 33-year-old Raheem Mostert. New Orleans knows Alvin Kamara turns 30 in July. Both teams need to think about the future at that position. Both have head coaches who like to run the ball. One thing is clear. A source told SM that those around the league believe one thing is certain.

“He likely won’t get passed Chicago if he falls that far.”

Ashton Jeanty is a strong probability for the Bears.

Whispers from Halas Hall indicate they love the Boise State star. It isn’t hard to see why. He nearly broke Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record in 2024, nearly winning the Heisman in the process. The guy carried his team to the college football playoffs. He’s built like a brick house with power, speed, contact balance, and vision. There aren’t any truly glaring weaknesses in his game. He’s earned comparisons to the likes of LaDainian Tomlinson and Marshawn Lynch. The Bears haven’t had a back of that caliber since Matt Forte.

Try to imagine what this offense could look like with Ashton Jeanty, Rome Odunze, D.J. Moore, and Cole Kmet all as options for quarterback Caleb Williams. Throw all of it into Johnson’s offense, and you can understand why some people around the league aren’t wild about the idea. They are quietly hoping Jeanty goes somewhere else. One thing is certain. If he gets past the Raiders, the noise will get loud in a hurry. It would mark the first time in 20 years the Bears have taken a running back in the 1st round.