Donald Trump Sentenced In Hush Money Case: First US President With Felony Conviction

A U.S. judge on Friday sentenced President-elect Donald Trump for his criminal conviction tied to hush money payments made to a porn star. While the judgment of guilt will be recorded, Trump will neither serve jail time nor pay a fine.

Initially, Trump faced the possibility of a four-year prison sentence. However, Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan opted for a sentence that bypassed complex constitutional questions by concluding the case with an unconditional discharge.

This decision makes Trump the first U.S. president-elect in history to have a felony conviction on record.

Judge Merchan explained that while aggravating factors were considered, Trump's position as president-elect created unique legal considerations. "The legal protections afforded to a president-elect override all other factors," he said, emphasizing that these protections, however, do not nullify the jury's verdict.

In May, Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records. The judge issued the lightest possible criminal penalty, declaring:

"Never before has this court encountered such a distinctive and extraordinary case. The only lawful sentence that respects the presidency's constitutional significance is an unconditional discharge."

Attending the hearing virtually, Trump expressed his discontent, calling the conviction a "tremendous setback" for New York and its judicial system.
"This has been a terrible experience," he remarked. "I believe it was orchestrated to harm my reputation and derail my presidential campaign."

The Hush Money Case Explained

The case centers on allegations that Trump falsified his business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign. The payment was intended to prevent Daniels from disclosing a sexual encounter with Trump that allegedly occurred a decade earlier-a claim Trump has consistently denied.