Trump Sentenced In Felony "Hush Money" Case, Released With No Restrictions

Appearing in court virtually from his Mar-a-Lago home Friday, President-elect Donald Trump was sentenced for his crimes in the New York "hush money" case, to unconditional discharge for his 34 felony counts, released with no restrictions. Justice Juan Merchan had earlier indicated that he was inclined to give Trump unconditional discharge, a sentence that includes neither jail time nor any other restriction that might impede Trump after his inauguration on Jan. 20.

Merchan told the court that "this has been a truly extraordinary case," even though once the courtroom doors closed, the trial itself had been no more special or unique or extraordinary than any other. 

However, he told Trump, the same could not be said about the circumstances surrounding the president-elect's sentencing "because of the office you once occupied and will soon occupy again." He said that it was the legal protections afforded to the office of the president that were extraordinary, not the occupant of the office. 

Those considerable — even extraordinary — legal protections afforded by the office of the chief executive, were a factor that overrode all others, Merchan said, but they were not a mitigating factor. He said they did not reduce the seriousness of the crimes, and even those considerable protections did not have the power to erase a jury verdict. 

But because of those protections, Merchan said he had determined that the only lawful sentence that permits entry of a judgment in conviction, without encroaching on the highest post in the land, was an unconditional discharge, which he imposed to cover all 34 counts.

In the courtroom, Trump and attorney Todd Blanche — who has also been tapped by the president-elect to serve as deputy attorney general — could be seen on a screen at the defense and prosecutors' table sitting next to each other, with two American flags visible behind them, in a room with dark wooden walls.

Joshua Steinglass, a prosecutor for the Manhattan District Attorney's office, told the court that prosecutors recommended the sentence of unconditional discharge. But he blasted Trump's conduct during the trial, saying it "constitutes a direct attack on the rule of law itself." And he pointed out that Trump has publicly vowed to retaliate against the prosecutors who have sought to hold him accountable in this and other matters.

Steinglass noted that Trump had characterized the court's proceedings as a corrupt, rigged, witch hunt, or a sham, and he noted that this court alone had found Trump in contempt of 10 distinct violations.

Blanche said that he strongly disagreed with the government's statements on the case and Trump's conduct. He told the court that it was not just the legal experts, not just counsel, and not just Trump who felt the case should not have been brought, but the majority of the American people agreed. 

The American voters got a chance to see and decide for themselves whether this is the kind of case that should've been brought, and they decided and that's why in 10 days President Trump is going to assume the office of the president of the United States, Blanche said.

Trump also spoke during the hearing, calling the trial a very terrible experience and a tremendous setback for New York and the New York court system. Trump complained that with all the horrible things that are going on, he had been indicted for calling a legal expense a legal expense. It's called a legal expense, he said, and added that he thought it was "an embarrassment" to New York.

At every turn, Trump and his lawyers have fought Manhattan prosecutors since the beginning of the "hush money" investigation in 2018. They challenged prosecutors' subpoenas and rulings by Merchan, battling all the way to the Supreme Court multiple times, including an effort this week to stave off Friday's hearing.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court said it would not intervene on Trump's behalf, clearing the way for Merchan to issue his decision. Trump soon after the high court's decision said he had read it and "thought it was a fair decision, actually," noting the Supreme Court justices pointed out he could appeal and that there would be "really…no penalty."

"But we're going to appeal anyway," he added in his remarks Thursday night. "So, I'll do my little thing tomorrow. They can have fun with their political opponent," Trump said.

Although there are no cameras in the courtroom, an audio recording of the proceedings will be released after the hearing concludes. 

While Trump's trial and arraignment brought crowds and overnight lines, on Friday morning, the general public line was sparse and no onlookers in the park across the street were visible before dawn.

Trump was found guilty in May after a seven-week trial. A unanimous jury concluded he committed 34 felonies in authorizing a scheme in 2017 to falsify records, in order to cover up reimbursements for a "hush money" payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Daniels testified during the trial, as did Trump's former lawyer and "fixer" Michael Cohen, who received the falsified reimbursements for his wire to Daniels just before the 2016 presidential election. Cohen gave Daniels the $130,000 payment in exchange for her silence about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump years earlier. 

Multiple witnesses testified that Trump was pleased voters did not learn of Daniels' story before the 2016 election.

Merchan held Trump in contempt 10 times during the trial for violations of a gag order barring him from making public comments about witnesses, court staff, and others. In issuing the 10th contempt citation, Merchan — who frequently acknowledged the unique circumstances of the trial and its famed, powerful defendant — foreshadowed Friday's likely sentence.

"The last thing I want to do is to put you in jail," Merchan said.