Crime & justice

Trump Gets No-Penalty Sentence in NY Case

JAN 10 2025·Updated JAN 11 2025

Story

Above: US Pres.-elect Donald Trump (R) appears remotely for a sentencing hearing on Jan. 10, 2025. Image credit: 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.
ABC News
CNBC
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.
NPR Online News
FOX News
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."
CBS News
NPR Online News
This case stemmed from a $130K payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election to maintain silence about an alleged sexual encounter, which Trump has consistently denied.
CBS News
CNBC
The sentencing took place after the US Supreme Court on Thursday in a 5-4 decision rejected Trump's emergency request to stop it.
USA Today
Trump, who maintains the ability to appeal his conviction in this case, is scheduled to be inaugurated as the 47th US president on Jan. 20.
NPR Online News
FOX News

Sources Split

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RIGHT

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CRIT

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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.

Breitbart

Daily Wire

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.

Daily Kos