Divided Supreme Court clears way for Trump's criminal sentencing in NY hush money case
USA TodayJan 08
Trump Gets No-Penalty Sentence in NY Case
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Above: US Pres.-elect Donald Trump (R) appears remotely for a sentencing hearing on Jan. 10, 2025. Image copyright: Angela Weiss - Pool/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
US Pres.-elect Donald Trump on Friday received an unconditional discharge sentence for 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to alleged hush money payments. This means Trump receives no punishment but his convictions will remain on his record.
New York state Judge Juan Merchan delivered the sentence virtually. He said a judgment of an unconditional discharge was the "only lawful sentence" he could issue. Merchan also wished Trump "Godspeed" in his second term.
Manhattan prosecutors, while recommending minimal sentencing, criticized Trump for causing enduring damage to public perception of the criminal justice system through his attacks on the proceedings. Trump told the court he felt he was "treated very, very unfairly."
The Spin
Pro-Trump narrative
This witch hunt against Trump gets more ridiculous by the day. Choosing not to punish the president-elect proves this always was a case with no merits and, as shown by Trump's election victory, the majority of the American people feel he has been unfairly prosecuted. This case should have been dismissed altogether.
Anti-Trump narrative
The only thing unfair about this sentencing was that Trump was able to use the presidency as a shield to protect from punishment. The court catered to Trump's every whim throughout the case. After getting off easy, he can now feel the embarrassment of becoming the first convicted-felon president.
