Judge Juan Merchan sentenced President-elect Donald Trump to an unconditional discharge for his conviction on falsification of business records charges on Friday.
While the president-elect is now officially a convicted felon, he will face no fine, probation jailtime, or other form of punishment.
“The protections afforded the office of the president are not a mitigating factor. They do no reduce the seriousness of the crime or justify its commission in any way,” said Merchan moments before handing down Trump’s sentence. “The protections are, however, a legal mandate which, pursuant to the rule of law, this court must respect and follow.”
“It was the citizenry of this nation that recently decided that once again you should have the benefits of those protections which include, among other things, the supremacy clause and presidential immunity. It is through that lens and that reality that this court must determine a lawful sentence,” he continued. “This court has determined that the only lawful sentence that permits entry of judgment of conviction, without encroaching on the highest office of the land is unconditional discharge. Therefore, at this time, I impose that sentence to cover all 34 counts.”
Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records last spring for his role in covering up hush money payments made to former porn star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign, who alleges that she had an affair with him in 2006.
Critics of the case, including the president-elect himself, have argued that it was motivated by political animus, citing Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s statements while campaigning for his office. Proponents have submitted that Trump committed a crime and that his conviction represents a victory for the rule of law.
In court on Friday, Trump preempted Merchan’s announcement of his sentence by declaring that his trial had been “a very terrible experience,” “a political witch hunt,” and “setback” for New York’s legal system.
On CNN, moments after Merchan announced Trump’s sentence, chief White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins declared that “the most interesting statement from Judge Merchan just a few moments ago before he left the bench was acknowledging Trump’s election win. He was saying, you know, ordinary citizens don’t get these kind of legal protections.”
“And he said, ‘it is the citizenry of this nation that recently decided that you should once again receive the benefits of those protections,’ essentially acknowledging that, yes, because Donald Trump is going to be inaugurated in a few days, that is changing the sentencing here,” she added.
