President-elect Donald Trump appeared virtually from his Mar-a-Lago residence on Friday to face sentencing in the New York “hush money” case. Justice Juan Merchan handed down an unconditional discharge, sparing Trump from jail time or any restrictions just days before his second inauguration.
Justice Merchan, fulfilling a promise made last week, explained that his decision was guided by legal constraints. “This has been a truly extraordinary case,” he said while emphasizing that the crimes themselves were not unique.
Merchan highlighted the unprecedented legal protections surrounding the presidency. “The legal protections afforded to the office of the president are extraordinary, not the occupant of the office,” he noted. Despite the seriousness of the charges, Merchan determined that an unconditional discharge was the only lawful option.
“Donald Trump, the civilian, might not have gotten so lenient a sentence,” he added.
Given the chance to address the court, Trump described the trial as a “very terrible experience” and “a tremendous setback for New York.”
“With all the horrible things going on, I got indicted for calling a legal expense a legal expense,” he said, referencing the falsified reimbursements for a $130,000 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels. The payment was made during the 2016 campaign to silence allegations of an affair.
Trump reiterated his claims of innocence and labeled the case a “political witch hunt” designed to damage his reputation and derail his political career. “That didn’t work,” he said.
“The fact is I’m innocent,” Trump declared. “I did nothing wrong.”
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass strongly criticized Trump’s conduct throughout the trial, accusing him of undermining the judicial system and eroding public trust in the rule of law.
“Far from expressing remorse, the defendant has purposefully bred disdain for our judicial institutions,” Steinglass argued. “He’s done this to serve his ends and to encourage others to reject the jury verdict.”
Steinglass also highlighted the risks posed by Trump’s rhetoric, noting it placed court officers in harm’s way. Despite these arguments, Merchan’s decision reflected the legal protections associated with Trump’s upcoming presidency.
The case stems from a 2018 investigation into Trump’s efforts to conceal hush money payments through falsified business records. The trial featured testimony from key witnesses, including Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, who detailed how he arranged the payments to Daniels on Trump’s behalf.
Trump’s legal team fought the charges aggressively, taking their battle to the Supreme Court on multiple occasions. Even on the eve of sentencing, Trump sought to delay the proceedings through an appeal, which the high court ultimately denied.
Throughout the trial, Merchan walked a tightrope between addressing Trump’s actions and recognizing the unique circumstances of the case. Trump was held in contempt ten times for violating a gag order, which prohibited him from commenting on court staff and witnesses.
During the final contempt citation, Merchan foreshadowed his sentencing decision. “The last thing I want to do is put you in jail,” he told Trump. On Friday, Merchan reiterated that his ruling was not an act of leniency but a necessity under the law.
“The only lawful sentence that permits entry of a judgment of conviction without encroaching on the highest office in the land is an unconditional discharge,” he said. Closing the proceedings, he added, “Godspeed as you assume your second term in office.”
While Trump’s trial and earlier court appearances drew large crowds and media attention, Friday’s scene was notably subdued. Few members of the public gathered outside the courthouse, and the typically bustling protest activity was absent.
Critics of the decision warned it set a dangerous precedent, implying that high office could shield individuals from accountability. Meanwhile, Trump’s supporters viewed the outcome as a vindication of his claims of political persecution.
Despite expressing partial satisfaction with the Supreme Court’s refusal to intervene, Trump signaled his intent to appeal the conviction. “We’re going to appeal anyway,” he said Thursday night. “They can have fun with their political opponent.”
As Trump prepares for his second term, the legal battles from his first presidency remain unresolved. The decision to avoid jail time reflects the complexities of holding a sitting or incoming president accountable. However, the broader implications of this landmark case are likely to reverberate well beyond Inauguration Day.
