Judge Juan Merchan today sentenced Donald Trump to an unconditional discharge in his conviction on 34 felonies in the Stormy Daniels hush money case. Merchan imposed the sentence, which carries no jail time, no fines and no home confinement for Trump. Trump will become the first U.S. president to ever enter office as a convicted felon. Merchan had hinted in advance of today’s sentencing that he would be giving Trump an unconditional discharge.
Trump appeared by video for the 30-minute hearing. Trump was at his resort Mar-a-Lago in Florida and Merchan conducted the sentencing at a Manhattan courtroom. Merchan wished Trump well during his second term in the White House,
Trump said he would appeal the sentence imposed by Merchan, even though it in essence provides no overt penalty for Trump.
The U.S. Supreme Court last night rejected an emergency appeal by Trump to delay today’s sentencing. The Supreme Court vote was 5 to 4, with Conservatives John Roberts and Amy Coney Barrett joining with the three liberal justices to reject Trump’s appeal.
