A judge set January 10 as the sentencing date for President-elect Donald Trump in his hush money case, just days before he is set to return to the White House. However, the judge indicated that Trump would not face jail time.
The decision positions Trump to become the first U.S. president to assume office with a felony conviction. Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan, who presided over the trial, stated in a written ruling that he plans to issue an "unconditional discharge." This means Trump’s conviction will remain on record, but he will not face jail, fines, or probation. Trump has the option to attend the sentencing virtually.
Judge Merchan rejected Trump’s attempts to dismiss the verdict on grounds of presidential immunity and his upcoming second term. He emphasized the need to conclude the matter, balancing Trump’s ability to govern without interference against the public expectation of equality before the law and respect for the jury's decision.
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Trump reacted strongly on Truth Social, calling the ruling a political attack and a “rigged charade” orchestrated by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. He warned that upholding the decision would undermine the presidency. Bragg’s office declined to comment, and legal experts noted that while Trump can appeal his conviction, he cannot pardon himself, as the case falls under state law.
The charges against Trump stemmed from a scheme to conceal a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign. The case centered on how Trump reimbursed his former attorney Michael Cohen for the payment, which was made to suppress claims of an alleged affair—a claim Trump denies.
Trump’s sentencing was initially scheduled for July 2024 but faced delays. After his November election victory, both sides weighed the implications of his upcoming presidency. Trump’s lawyers argued for the case's dismissal, citing disruptions to his governance, while prosecutors advocated for accommodations that still upheld the conviction.
Merchan ruled against dismissing the case, stating that granting such immunity to a president-elect would undermine the rule of law. He dismissed arguments linking the Supreme Court's immunity ruling to the case, noting that Trump’s actions occurred before and during his first presidency.
The hush money case is the only one of Trump’s four criminal indictments to reach trial. Federal charges related to election interference and classified documents have been dropped, while a Georgia state election case remains unresolved. Trump’s lawyers argued that these developments should lead to the dismissal of the New York case, but Merchan found no basis for such a conclusion, emphasizing the distinct stages of the respective cases.