Trump sentenced to unconditional discharge in 'hush money' trial

Trump sentenced to unconditional discharge in 'hush money' trial
President Donald Trump pauses during the 9/11 Observance Ceremony at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., Sept. 11, 2017. During the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, 184 people were killed at the Pentagon. To the left is first lady Melania Trump, and to the right are Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford. (DOD photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Dominique A. Pineiro)
Elizabeth Preza
January 10, 2025 | 10:09AM ETNews & Politics

Manhattan-based Judge Juan Merchan on Friday sentenced Donald Trump to an "unconditional discharge" on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to his 2024 “hush money” trial at the New York Supreme Court.

Merchan had previously signaled “Trump will face neither penalties nor prison time,” CNN reported Thursday.

“The judge has indicated that he plans [to sentence Trump to an] unconditional discharge — a rarity in felony convictions — partly to avoid complicated constitutional issues that would arise if he imposed a penalty that overlapped with Trump’s presidency,” NBC New York reports.

READ MORE: 'Fascist ideology': Veteran actor slams 'orange idiot' Trump for 'nonsense' claims about LA wildfires

The U.S. Supreme Court in a 5-4 on Thursday declined Trump’s emergency request to delay the sentencing, with Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joining the court’s liberals to allow the sentencing to go forward.

Trump is slated to be sworn in for his second term on Jan. 20. The sentencing solidifies his position as the first person convicted of a felony to assume the presidency.

Trump's lawyers say they intend to appeal the case.

READ MORE: How Trump could seriously damage America’s 'information infrastructure for the economy'

Report typos and corrections to: feedback@alternet.org.

Do you feel Democrats can regain control of Congress in 2026?

{{ post.roar_specific_data.api_data.analytics }}
@2026 - AlterNet Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. - "Poynter" fonts provided by fontsempire.com.