The U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has been handed an unconditional discharge on all 34 charges against him, paving the way for his inauguration on January 20 as a convicted felon. The ruling, delivered by Judge Juan Merchan in a Manhattan courtroom, spares Mr. Trump from jail time or probation, despite the gravity of the allegations.
Mr. Trump’s legal team made a last-minute attempt to overturn the conviction with an emergency hearing at the U.S. Supreme Court, but the effort ultimately proved unsuccessful. During the sentencing, Judge Merchan remarked, “I wish you godspeed as you assume your second term in office,” describing the unconditional discharge as “the only lawful sentence, without encroaching upon the highest office of the land.”
The charges stem from accusations that Mr. Trump orchestrated illegal hush money payments during his 2016 presidential campaign to silence individuals with potentially damaging claims. Prosecutors argued that he falsified business records to conceal the payments, thereby violating campaign finance laws. Despite what prosecutor Joshua Steinglass described as “overwhelming evidence” against him, the recommendation for an unconditional discharge was upheld.
Appearing virtually from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Mr. Trump called the case “a tremendous setback” for the U.S. justice system. Maintaining his innocence, he stated, “The fact is, I’m totally innocent,” and accused political rivals of leveraging the legal system against him. Tying the legal battle to his ongoing presidential campaign, he claimed voters “got to see this firsthand,” framing the case as an example of political interference.
The lenient sentencing has sparked outrage among critics and divided public opinion. Prosecutor Steinglass condemned Mr. Trump for showing no remorse, accusing him of breeding public distrust in the judiciary. “Far from expressing any kind of remorse for his criminal conduct, the defendant has purposefully bred disdain for our institutions and the rule of law,” he said, adding that Mr. Trump’s actions had endangered court personnel and undermined public confidence.
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Mr. Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, fired back, labeling the case a politically motivated attack. “This is a sad day for the Trump family and the country,” Blanche declared, asserting that the charges amounted to election interference.
While the sentence spares Mr. Trump from immediate legal repercussions, it cements his place in history as the first U.S. president-elect to take office under such unprecedented circumstances. As his inauguration approaches, the legal controversies surrounding him promise to cast a long shadow over his presidency, fueling debates about justice, accountability, and the integrity of America’s political system.
The case, which began in a Lower Manhattan courtroom, has captivated global audiences and raised questions about the intersection of politics and law. For now, Mr. Trump remains defiant, portraying himself as a victim of a rigged system, while his critics argue that his actions have eroded trust in the institutions he will soon lead.
