US President-elect Donald Trump has been sentenced to an “unconditional discharge”, meaning he is spared both jail time and a fine, following his conviction over hush-money payments made to an adult porn actress.
Appearing stony-faced, Trump sat beside his lawyer via video link in a New York courtroom.
The prosecution had requested that Trump receive no prison sentence, probation, or fine — a request which the judge upheld.
Trump described the experience as a “terrible” one, maintaining his “total innocence”, while his lawyer argued that the charges should never have been brought against him.
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Judge Merchan referred to the case as “extraordinary”, noting its paradoxical nature: it attracted considerable attention, but followed ordinary court proceedings.
In May, Trump was convicted on 34 counts related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels, and how those payments were later reimbursed.
It was the first time Donald Trump had spoken in court during this trial.
Although he was in Florida, he appeared via video link in the New York courtroom.
He addressed the court for several minutes, reiterating his innocence and condemning the case as a “political witch hunt” before also commenting on his election victory.
With the Manhattan hush money case concluded and his two federal indictments dismissed due to his upcoming presidency, only one of the four legal proceedings against Trump remains.
However, it is unlikely to progress anytime soon, with its future remaining uncertain.
Trump, along with several co-conspirators, has been charged in Fulton County, Georgia, with an alleged criminal conspiracy to overturn the state’s 2020 election results.
Trump was indicted in August 2023, and had his mugshot taken in an Atlanta jail, where he pleaded not guilty.
However, this case has been mired in legal delays and complications, which have currently rendered it stalled. Trump is also shielded from state prosecutions while serving as president, although he cannot issue a pardon for himself in this instance.
In December, the Georgia appeals court removed Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from the case after lawyers representing some of Trump’s co-defendants raised allegations about a romantic relationship between Willis and one of the attorneys from her prosecution team.
The case will now be reassigned in a politically fraught and uncertain process.
