New York: President-elect Donald Trump won't be facing any jail time or penalties in the hush money case, as he was sentenced to an 'unconditional discharge' by Judge Juan Merchan on Friday, CNN reported.
The sentencing, which was expected, means Trump will remain a felon but face no jail time, penalties or probation for his conviction in the hush money case.
According to CNN, Trump showed no visible reaction as the judge concluded the hearing.
During his sentencing hearing, he reiterated that he was innocent at his sentencing hearing this morning. "The fact is I'm totally innocent. I did nothing wrong," he said.
"It's been a political witch hunt, it was done to damage my reputation," Trump added.
Earlier, Trump also put a request to the Supreme Court, to pause his sentencing in the hush money case, scheduled for January 10, CNN reported.
Trump's attorneys argue that delaying the sentencing is necessary "to prevent grave injustice and harm to the institution of the presidency and the operations of the federal government."
Notably, Trump was convicted in May 2023, of falsifying records to conceal payments to his then-lawyer Michael Cohen, who reimbursed USD 130,000 hush money payment made to an adult film star Stormy Daniels for her silence about an alleged affair with Trump before the 2016 election. Trump has denied the affair.
A divided court ruled Thursday evening that the sentencing will not interfere with his work as its impact on his responsibilities “is relatively insubstantial” and allowed it to go forward.
Judge Juan Merchan has indicated that he will not impose a prison term on Trump, who was found guilty by a jury of business fraud for listing money paid to a porn star as legal expenses.
He also allowed Trump to appear remotely and said he would give him a “conditional discharge”, which would carry no penalty beyond branding him a convicted criminal.
Vice President Kamala Harris and her supporters had tried to capitalise on the conviction highlighting it in their campaign.
But the voters ignored it and elected Trump, rejecting her, and the sentencing would be a final chance to humiliate him 10 days before he takes office.
Trump’s lawyer Michael Cohen paid porn star Stormy Daniels $130,000 before his 2016 election to buy her silence when she claimed to have had a sexual encounter with Trump.
Trump reimbursed the lawyer, and the payments were shown as legal expenses, which the prosecutor said was a criminal fraud and the jury accepted it.
Trump denied her claim of a tryst and said he made the payment to avoid embarrassment to his family.
Local prosecutor Alvin Bragg, who was elected to the position as a Democrat, made each of the checks he wrote into separate criminal offences to pump up the convictions to 34.
The three liberal Supreme Court justices were joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Trump appointee Amy Coney Barrett to deliver the majority verdict, 5 to 4.
Trump took a conciliatory attitude towards the Supreme Court justices while lashing out at Merchan. (IANS)
Also Read: Deadly Wildfires Ravage Los Angeles; Claiming Lives and Destroying 10,000+ Structures
Also Watch: