(The Center Square) – A New York judge sentenced President-elect Donald Trump to an unconditional discharge on Friday.
Judge Juan Merchan sentenced Trump, who attended the hearing virtually, to an unconditional discharge, which means Trump won’t face time behind bars or probation. Trump vowed to appeal, saying the prosecution has been nothing but a political witch hunt.
“After careful analysis and obedience of government mandates, pursuant of law, the court feels the only sentence is an unconditional discharge, which is a lawful and permissible sentence for falsifying business records,” Merchan said. “I impose that sentence for all 34 counts, and sir, I wish you godspeed as you pursue your second term in office.”
The U.S. Supreme Court late Thursday blocked Trump’s last-ditch attempt to stave off his criminal sentencing, The nation’s highest court, in a 5-4 decision, declined Trump’s request to halt his criminal sentencing. The majority said Trump’s problems with sentencing were “relatively insubstantial.”
Trump later thanked the Supreme Court in a post on Truth Social. Trump also said he never did anything wrong.
“I am innocent of all of the Judge’s made up, fake charges,” Trump wrote. “This was nothing other than Weaponization of our Justice System against a Political Opponent. It’s called Lawfare, and nothing like this has ever happened in the United States of America, and it should never be allowed to happen again.”
Trump said he’s focused on his second term.
“The pathetic, dying remnants of the Witch Hunts against me will not distract us as we unite and, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” he wrote on Truth Social.
In May 2024, a Manhattan jury convicted Trump of 34 counts of falsifying business records for disguising hush money payments to an adult film actress as legal costs ahead of the 2016 election. Under New York state law, falsifying business records in the first degree is a Class E felony with a maximum sentence of four years in prison.
Trump has repeatedly said his political opponents coordinated the criminal cases against him.
Federal prosecutors previously moved to end two criminal cases against Trump – the election interference case in Washington D.C. and the classified documents case in Florida.