The first convicted felon ever elected president was officially sentenced this morning… after the Supreme Court closed Donald Trump's final appeal on Thursday evening to have the verdict overturned.
Trump appeared remotely from Mar-a-Lago, Florida, this morning to attend the court hearing in Manhattan where he was released with an “unconditional discharge.”
Judge Juan Mercan had already signaled that Trump would not face prison, fines or probation… and opted for an unconditional discharge – upholding the conviction but not imposing any penalties due to the president-elect's official status.
The judge could have sentenced Trump to up to four years in prison for the crime. Trump had previously called Merchan “corrupt” and the charges politically motivated. Prosecutors formally recommended unconditional release this morning before sentencing.
At the hearing this morning, Trump said: “The fact is, I am completely innocent. I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Trump was convicted by a jury in May 2024 on 34 counts of falsifying business records over hush money payments in 2016 to cover up a severance payment to maintain a previous affair with a porn star Stormy Daniels from being exposed during his presidential bid this year.
Trump had filed various appeals – including to the Supreme Court – demanding presidential immunity… although the lawsuits came before Trump took office in 2017.
TMZ.com
A small group of protesters gathered outside the courthouse Friday morning carrying signs that read, “Today's sentencing: Justice delayed is justice denied” and “Presidents are not kings.”
Trump takes office in just ten days, on January 20th.