President-elect Donald Trump is poised to take office once again this month, despite the fact that he will be entering the White House with a criminal record. He will not serve any jail time, however, following the sentencing handed down this morning in New York for his conviction in a hush-money case.

The conviction sparked significant frustration among Trump and his supporters, but it did not stand in the way of his successful return to the presidency. Trump’s sentence includes an unconditional discharge, which means there will be no probation, fine, or incarceration, though his felony conviction remains in place. This type of sentence is issued when a judge determines that punishment serves no further purpose under the circumstances.

Trump’s sentencing hearing took place remotely, as the U.S. Supreme Court had rejected his last-minute attempt to delay the proceedings.

In a final appearance before New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, Trump opted to appear via video link, after the sentencing had been postponed due to his re-election and several legal appeals. After delivering the sentence, Merchan wished Trump well, stating, “Sir, I wish you godspeed as you assume a second term in office.”

Before the sentence was pronounced, Trump used the opportunity to once again lash out at prosecutors for bringing the charges. He argued that the case was politically motivated, designed to damage his reputation and prevent him from winning the election. “It was done to damage my reputation so that I would lose the election, and obviously it didn’t work,” he remarked. Trump continued to defend his actions, claiming that the payments made to his former lawyer Michael Cohen were simply “legal expenses” and that he was unfairly indicted for them. “I would just like to say that I was treated very, very unfairly, and thank you very much,” Trump told Merchan.

The prosecutors did not oppose the unconditional discharge sentence, but lead District Attorney Joshua Steinglass emphasized that Trump’s status as a convicted felon remained. Trump knew that under the terms of the “unconditional discharge,” his punishment would be relatively light, as Merchan had already indicated that this would be the appropriate sentence for someone about to reclaim the office of President of the United States.

Trump had been indicted in 2023 and convicted in May after a six-week trial. The charges involved 34 counts of falsifying business records, all tied to his attempts to cover up a potential scandal during the 2016 presidential race. The prosecution argued that Trump and his lawyer Michael Cohen conspired to hide payments, which were labeled as legal fees, to prevent a story from harming his candidacy.

Prosecutors described the $130,000 payment as an undeclared campaign contribution that was intended to influence the election by suppressing damaging information. Some legal experts saw the case as an innovative application of business fraud and election law in New York. Nonetheless, the jury was persuaded by the evidence, including photographs of checks made out to Cohen, which Trump had signed while in office as president. As a result, the jury convicted him on all charges.

The trial featured numerous witnesses. Outside the courtroom, Trump held impromptu press conferences every day, attacking both Justice Merchan and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. He labeled the trial as a political attack orchestrated by Democrats, and often flouted the gag order imposed on him, which resulted in substantial fines.

Trump’s legal team vigorously fought against the sentencing, arguing that it was an undue burden on an incoming president and that, once re-elected, the conviction should no longer apply. They referenced a 2024 Supreme Court ruling that shielded sitting presidents from criminal prosecution for actions taken in official capacities. However, the Manhattan DA’s office maintained that Trump was not acting in an official capacity when he violated state law by concealing payments. The defense’s arguments about presidential immunity and hardship were not persuasive to Justice Merchan or the New York appeals court, which rejected Trump’s motions.

On Thursday evening, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene, issuing a brief 5-4 ruling that left Trump to proceed with his sentencing and postponed any further appeals until afterward. Despite failing to secure an acquittal, delay, or overturned verdict, three of Trump’s attorneys in this case—Todd Blanche, Emil Bove, and D. John Sauer—are expected to take on prominent roles within his new administration, both in the Justice Department and the White House.

{Matzav.com}