New York Judge Juan Merchan ruled Friday that President-elect Donald Trump will not face any punishment after being convicted of 34 felonies related to a hush-money payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels.
Merchan gave Trump an unconditional discharge, meaning he declined to sentence Trump to jail time or probation in light of the president-elect’s imminent return to the White House. The sentencing puts an end to an unprecedented case that Trump and his allies have cast as political persecution.
Addressing the court by video before receiving his sentence, Trump called the trial “a very terrible experience” and again insisted on his innocence.
Trump’s sentencing follows the once-and-future president’s failed attempt to have the Supreme Court postpone the proceedings. Conservative Justices John Roberts and Amy Coney Barrett, a Trump appointee, sided with the liberals on the court and denied Trump’s attempt to halt the sentencing. If Trump had not been sentenced Friday, it likely would have been delayed until 2029, when his presidency concludes.
Trump was convicted in May following a criminal trial that featured testimony from witnesses such as Daniels, disgraced former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, and National Enquirer publisher David Pecker. He was the first former president to be indicted and convicted. When sworn in on January 20, Trump will become the first convicted felon to hold the nation’s highest office.
Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg (D) prosecuted Trump for falsifying business records in connection with reimbursements he sent to Cohen after the fixer paid Daniels ahead of the 2016 election to keep quiet about an alleged sexual encounter they had in 2006. Trump has consistently denied Daniels’s claims about the encounter.
Bragg usually takes a soft-on-crime approach and uses a novel legal theory to elevate the business records charges against Trump to felonies and bypass the statute of limitations. He previously ran on prosecuting Trump during his campaign for district attorney.
Trump frequently criticized Bragg and Merchan for rigging the outcome of the case against him and holding political biases. Merchan previously donated to President Joe Biden’s campaign, and his daughter is a Democratic political operative.
The hush money case was one of four criminal cases Trump overcame to win another term in resounding fashion this past November. After his victory, the other three cases were rendered moot before going to trial.
Special counsel Jack Smith prosecuted Trump on classified documents charges in Florida and election interference charges in Washington, D.C., related to the January 6 Capitol riot. Judge Aileen Cannon threw out Smith’s case in Florida, and Trump’s immunity challenge to the Supreme Court significantly delayed the D.C. proceedings. The Supreme Court ruled in July that presidents have absolute immunity for “official” acts during their time in office.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) prosecuted Trump for racketeering in Georgia for attempting to overturn the 2020 election results. An appeals court tossed Willis from the Trump case last month over her romantic relationship with former special prosecutor Nathan Wade.
James Lynch is a news writer for National Review. He previously was a reporter for the Daily Caller. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and based in the Washington, D.C. area.
Reprinted with Permission from National Review – By James Lynch
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AMAC or AMAC Action.
34 felonies my arse.
It’s obvious the Democrats conducted a kangaroo court to make political hay.
Had he been convicted then the true criminals of which DC is full would have to hang .All “democrat leadership” would be gone .
Our SCOTUS has done this country and President Trump a grave disservice by not throwing out the lower, biased court’s, guilty verdict! The so-called “judge” Merchan apparently was politically biased and contributed to the current president’s democrat election campaign. He also would not allow Trump to talk about his trial or its members (a gag order)! Totally illegal. The proceedings were totally illegal as this judge apparently made up the rules as he proceeded! Paying no attention to the real law governing the trial!
Since the whole point of this sham trial was to keep Trump from getting re-elected, Merchan and Bragg failed utterly. They should both be totally disbarred and sent off in disgrace, as they have discredited our legal system. Hope Trump gets them in the end.
I’m really hoping and praying that This lawfare by the deep state Democrats comes back to bite them where it really hurts and that its permeant.
Thats great news. Now the appeal and overthrow of the liberal law fair by the Supreme Court will proceed
Disagree with headline “Judge Lets Trump Off with No Punishment” since they will obviously still claim he’s a felon which equates to slander in this case.
Merchan believes he saved face. Stupid feckless dolt.
Merchan = Caiaphas.
They are up to something otherwise why not just drop it? There’s a reason to keep him a “felon”… probably deny him his ability to fly or leave the country next….
ONE misdemeanor statute charge was elevated into 34 felony charges. A total perversion of justice. Everyone knows the New York State justice system is biased left and is as crooked as an old dogs leg. This entire case will be reversed as the perverse garbage it is. What you tolerate you endorse, write this down this will be thrown out!
Won’t buy the “felon” label. To say this political “system” is a mess is a misnomer. Jack Smith who pretended to be a judge against Trump was removed…why isn’t he being charge with a very serious breech of law by impersonating a Federal judge? Anyone read or heard anything about that? Of course not. What Trump has been put through would defeat anyone else. It seems to just make him stronger and more determined. I pray that Vance will become a bit more like him…coming from a hard scrabble beginning should be a good start. Demorats are frantic they’ve shown their treason against our Constitution on a daily basis. But never underestimate their evil.
What a waste of time and money!!! Maybe Joe will pardon him before he leaves office!!!
This way, President Trump can appeal, get the convictions overturned and then sue them for false prosecution, after of course, he refers them for criminal activities in prosecuting him.
This judge looks just like the others who targeted Trump… though they all actually targeted all of us. This cannot be forgotten.
Looking out at the senators and congress I anna say “Let you without sin cast the first stone”
It is crucial that President Trump makes DOGE his top priority and eliminates pork from the government. Cutting pork barrel politics is far and away the most important issue. 2 trillion a year in cuts should be the bare minimum.
I used to be a democrat until Barack Hussein Obama signed what he called the stimulus and what any reasonable American would call porkulus. That bill was so laden with pork it makes me sick to even think about it. Porkulus was the worst bill I’d seen and paved the way for the current ultra left democrats. I have never voted for a democrat since then. DOGE should be the top priority of the government.
I understand why the SOCTUS did nothing on this, but I sure hope the appeals are fast and get all this nonsense dismissed. Now we have to admit that our incoming President is in fact a convicted felon. Not a great starting point in the same week Musk already started downgrading what DOGE can likely do. The 2026 midterms are already gearing up and the salivating has begun.
Nothing stops this case from being appealed and that should happen. Lawfare must be removed from our country. As to those Supreme Court Justices it seems Amy is one of Trump’s rare mistakes. How can we call her Conservative if she as often as not doesn’t “vote” that way? As for Roberts he was never a true Conservative and votes with the Left more often then not. And I STILL think he had something to do with that leak on the Supreme Court’s decision on Roe Vs. Wade!
Which is your favorite bowl game this year?
Federal Express Orange Bowl
USF&G Sugar Bowl
AT&T Rose Bowl
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
Mobil Cotton Bowl
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
“We are now a Banana Republic the way our court system has been politicized by Biden & the Democrats whose greed for power knows no bounds.” said by a retired lawyer who was preaching at the diner. I agree and it is a shame that the DOJ cannot reign in these abusers of power.