Donald Trump has been sentenced in New York for his hush money crimes after America’s highest court refused to intervene – but escaped a jail term.
The 78-year-old president elect had appealed to delay sentencing in his New York hush money case but this was rejected in a sharply divided Supreme Court. The 5-4 decision meant Trump, who was found guilty in what prosecutors labelled an attempt to conceal a $130,000 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels, learned his fate in the historic hearing in Manhattan today.
After being found guilty of 34 felony counts in the hush money case, today the businessman turned politician received an unconditional discharge as he appeared by video link from his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump has denied having sex with Ms Daniels and repeatedly referred to the trial as a “witch hunt”.
Trump, 78, had faced up to four years behind bars, which, had he been, the US Constitution would still have permitted him to run the country from his cell.
Before his sentencing, Mr Trump was given the opportunity to address the court with a defence statement, in which he said he had endured “a terrible experience” during the trial. Mr Trump told the judge: “This has been a very terrible experience. I think it’s been a tremendous setback for New York, the New York court system.
“This is a case that Alvin Bragg did not want to bring … from what I read and what I hear, inappropriately handled before he got there. I called a legal fee a legal expense and for this, I got indicted. It’s incredible, actually.” They all said this case that should have never been brought, it’s an injustice,” Trump added.
“It was done to damage my reputation so I would lose the election,” he says. This has been a political witch hunt.”
As his lawyer Todd Blanche did, Trump referred to “legal experts” who he said thought the case shouldn’t have been brought.
He then went through a litany of people, from cable pundits to conservative legal experts. Finishing his statement he said: “I was treated very, very unfairly, and I thank you very much. The fact is I’m totally innocent. I did nothing wrong.”
In his sentencing remarks, Merchan began speaking generally about the challenges and considerations of sentencing a defendant:. He said: “The task is always difficult and deserving of careful consideration – whether the sentence be unconditional discharge or incarceration of 25 years to life. One can argue that the trial was in many respects somewhat ordinary.”
The judge added: “To be sure, it is the legal protections afforded to the office of the president of the United States that are extraordinary – not the occupant of the office. I wish you godspeed as you assume your second term in office,” he says.
He also told the court that he has determined that unconditional discharge is “the only lawful sentence, without encroaching upon the highest office of the land”. The sentence is the same as what the Judge previously indicated he planned to hand Trump: a no-penalty sentence called an unconditional discharge, which means he would not receive jail time or probation and no fines would be imposed.
On Friday Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass condemned Trump’s attacks on the legal system throughout and after the case, saying: “The once and future President of the United States has engaged in a coordinated campaign to undermine its legitimacy.”
He said that rather than show remorse, Trump had “bred disdain” for the jury verdict and the criminal justice system and his calls for retaliation against those involved in the case, including demanding the judge to be disbarred, “has caused enduring damage to public perception of the criminal justice system and has put officers of the court in harm’s way.”
Trump remained defiant, addressing the court by video in the company of his lawyer Todd Blanche, calling the sentencing “a very terrible experience” and saying there was no crime.
Trump’s trial stretched over seven weeks, with 22 witnesses testifying, including porn actor Stormy Daniels, Trump’s fixer turned foe Michael Cohen, former supermarket tabloid publisher David Pecker and White House insiders. Daniels alleges she had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006, which Trump still denies, along with any misconduct.
A conditional discharge would have required Trump to meet certain conditions, like maintaining employment or paying restitution, but he will not be subject to any requirements in the future. Today’s hearing went ahead after the US Supreme Court rejected Trump’s effort to dismiss the criminal case against him on Thursday, clearing the path for his sentencing.
The trial, brought by New York prosecutors, stemmed from the payment to Daniels during the closing days of the 2016 presidential campaign, which lawyers said was part of a scheme to silence her allegations of a sexual encounter with Trump. The adult actress claims she slept with Trump after a 2006 Lake Tahoe golf tournament as his wife, Melania, was at home nursing Trump’s newborn son, Barron. The businessman denied her allegations.
During the trial, Daniels gave evidence but later taunted Trump after delivering her bombshell testimony. The adult actress spoke on X, formerly Twitter, as the former president’s legal team sought a change in his gag order against him to allow him to talk publicly about her evidence. After Merchan rejected the request to amend his ruling, which was imposed to prevent Trump from intimidating witnesses and jurors, Daniels offered her alleged former lover some advice.
“Real men respond to testimony by being sworn in and taking the stand in court,” she wrote on X. “Oh… wait. Nevermind.” Before jury selection began, Trump insisted he would take to the witness box. I would testify, absolutely,” he said when asked. “I’m testifying. I tell the truth. I mean, all I can do is tell the truth. And the truth is that there is no case.”
After he was found guilty, Daniels broke her silence to the Sunday Mirror, demanding the president-elect be jailed. Trump had pleaded not guilty to the charges and repeatedly denied wrongdoing, framing the case as a politically motivated attack intended to undermine his 2024 presidential campaign.
Ahead of his sentencing, Trump lashed out at the sentencing order, claiming it “goes against our Constitution and, if allowed to stand, would be the end of the Presidency as we know it.” His spokesperson, Steven Cheung, echoed the sentiment, decrying the case as part of a “witch hunt” aimed at derailing Trump’s political ambitions.
“President Trump must be allowed to continue the presidential transition process and to execute the vital duties of the presidency, unobstructed by the remains of this or any remnants of the witch hunts,” Cheung said. “There should be no sentencing, and President Trump will continue fighting against these hoaxes until they are all dead.”
Trump’s legal team had argued that the case would impede his ability to govern effectively during his presidency, creating an unprecedented legal and constitutional dilemma. However, Justice Merchan dismissed the motion, stating that less drastic measures could address Trump’s concerns.
Previously, the president-elect had argued unsuccessfully that the case violated a Supreme Court ruling granting presidents broad immunity from prosecution for official acts taken while in office. However, the charges in this case related to Trump’s private conduct before his 2017 presidency. Trump is now set to become the first convicted felon to serve as president when he is inaugurated on January 20.