Trump hush money sentencing set for January 10 — and judge says he'll likely walk away with zero punishment
Business InsiderJan 01
Trump to be Sentenced in Hush Money Case on Jan. 10
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Above: US Pres.-elect Donald Trump pictured at Manhattan criminal court in New York, US, on May 30, 2024. Image copyright: Michael M. Santiago/Bloomberg/Contributor via Getty Images
The Facts
US Pres.-elect Donald Trump will be sentenced on Jan. 10 over his criminal convictions for hush money payments to adult film performer Stormy Daniels, a judge ruled on Friday.
However, in an 18-page written ruling, Manhattan Judge Juan Merchan signaled that he does not intend to sentence Trump to prison time — instead indicating that he plans to issue an unconditional discharge in which the convictions stand, but the case would be closed without jail time, a fine, or probation.
Merchan said he sought to balance Trump's ability to govern "unencumbered" by the case against other interests including the Supreme Court's July ruling on presidential immunity, the importance of respecting a jury verdict, as well as the public's expectation that "all are equal and no one is above the law."
The Spin
Democratic narrative
In signaling that he plans to issue an unconditional discharge, as well as making Trump's attendance at the sentencing hearing that's before the inauguration voluntary, this was the right play from the judge. It counters arguments that sentencing will interfere with Trump's presidency while ensuring he will be the first convicted felon to be sworn in.
Republican narrative
This was a corrupt case of political persecution in which Democrat-aligned judges and prosecutors sought to interfere with the election so their preferred candidate would win. Now that Trump got the other attempts thrown out and secured a victory at the Supreme Court on presidential immunity, the corrupt judge still wants to his pound of flesh.
