Trump Hush Money Sentence

Donald Trump has received his sentence in a landmark case. On Friday, January 10, just ten days before the inauguration of his second term as President of the United States, Trump was sentenced in New York for his conviction in the hush money case. Despite facing 34 charges, he received an unconditional discharge, avoiding prison time, fines, or probation. Judge Juan Merchan described the case as “truly extraordinary” and reportedly told Trump during the virtual sentencing, “I wish you godspeed as you assume your second term in office.” Trump and his attorney Todd Blanche attended the hearing remotely from Florida.

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass criticized Trump’s lack of remorse, telling the court, “Far from expressing any kind of remorse for his criminal conduct, [Donald Trump] encouraged others to reject the jury verdict.” Steinglass called this behavior a “direct attack on the rule of law.” Meanwhile, Trump labeled the proceedings a “political witch hunt” aimed at damaging his reputation, stating that the experience had been “very terrible.” This historic event marks the first time a convicted criminal will be sworn into the presidency. Trump’s inauguration is scheduled for January 20.

Background on the Case

Trump’s conviction stems from a May 2024 verdict in which a New York court found him guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records. These charges were related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels, who alleges they had an intimate encounter in 2006—a claim Trump denies. A request by Trump to halt criminal proceedings was previously rejected by the Supreme Court in a 5-4 vote, with conservative Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Chief Justice John Roberts joining the court’s three liberal judges in denying his appeal. This decision ensured the sentencing process remained uninterrupted.

Despite describing the sentence as “fair,” Trump has vowed to challenge the ruling. “We’re going to appeal anyway, just psychologically,” he remarked during a press conference on Thursday, January 9. “Because, frankly, it’s a disgrace.” Trump’s legal team has indicated that his concerns with the sentencing will be addressed during the appeals process.