President elect Donald Trump becomes the 1st president to be convicted and enter the White House in 10 days as a convicted felon - No jailtime or probation imposed on him to facilitate his functioning as a president to respect the verdict of the electorate - Trump can appeal the case - SC dismissed his appeal to pause the sentence
Breaking News: President elect Donald Trump is convicted in the hush money case, but the judge does not award any jail time for him - Trump calls it a "despicable charge"
The people have watched the courts proceedings and rejected to your trial, millions have voted for me, all the seven swing states voted for me - Trump
By TN Ashok New York, Jan 10, 2025 
Perhaps for the 1st time in the history of the United States, a president elect has been convicted of a felony and sentenced but awarded no jailtime. President elect Donald Trump has been convicted in the $130,000 hush money case allegedly paid to adult star Stormy Daniels reportedly by his counsel Michel Cohen by cooking the books, weeks before he became president in 2016 election.
President-elect Donald Trump has been sentenced to unconditional discharge for his conviction last year on 34 charges of business fraud related to hush money payment to Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign.
What the sentence means: Unconditional discharge means Trump will not be imprisoned, fined or face probation, but his conviction still stands, and he will enter office as a convicted felon. Prosecutors had recommended the sentence, saying in court Friday, “we must be respectful of the office of the presidency” and Trump’s pending inauguration.
Court is now releasing audio playback of today's sentencing
The court is now releasing audio of today’s sentencing, which was not allowed to be broadcast live by media. The audio recording will provide an opportunity to hear Donald Trump speaking as he was sentenced for his hush money conviction, meaning he will enter the presidency as a felon, but received no penalties.
Analysis: Trump doesn't have the same conditions as other convicted felons, CNN anchor says
President-elect Donald Trump doesn’t have the same conditions as other convicted felons who have probationary periods, but instead has to maintain his role as president, CNN anchor Laura Coates said.
“Donald Trump right now is in a league of his own for the reasons that my colleagues have described. But an unconditional release, normally, if somebody is convicted of a crime and does not have a jail sentence imposed, a probationary period comes in,” Coates said.
Coates described responsibilities including checking in with a probation officer, engaging with drug testing and community service “in order to make sure that they don’t have the ability to be actually brought into a jail.”
“Donald Trump doesn’t have any of those conditions. The condition he now has is to maintain his role as the commander in chief and president of the United States,” Coates said.
Trump will take office on January 20.
Trump sentenced to unconditional release, meaning he'll face no jail time or penalties
Judge Juan Merchan has sentenced Donald Trump to unconditional discharge.
“The only lawful sentence that permits entry of a judgment or conviction without encroaching upon the highest office of the land is an unconditional discharge,” Merchan told Trump.
The sentencing, which was expected, means Trump will remain a felon but faces no jail time, penalties or probation for his conviction in the hush money case.
“Sir, I wish you godspeed as you assume your second term in office,” Merchan said in his final statement to Trump.
Trump did not react as Merchan concluded the hearing.
Powers of the presidency are not able to "erase a jury verdict," Merchan says
Judge Juan Merchan says he need not repeat the aggravating factors that he has already articulated in his recent orders. “However, the considerable, indeed extraordinary, legal protections afforded the office of the chief executive is a factor that overrides all others,” he says.
“They do not reduce the seriousness of the crime or justify its commission in any way,” Merchan says of the legal protections for the office of the presidency.
“One power they do not provide is the power to erase a jury verdict,” Merchan says.
Merchan noted that voters ultimately decided to bestow Trump the protections of the office once again. “Ordinary citizens do not receive those legal protections. It is the office of the president that bestows those to the office holder. It is the citizenry of this nation that recently decided that you should once again receive the benefits of those protections,” he says.
Merchan notes it's the office of the presidency that is extraordinary, not the occupant of the office
Judge Juan Merchan is speaking to Donald Trump and is noting that it’s the office of the presidency that is extraordinary, not the occupant of the office.
“It is the legal protections afforded to the office of the president of the United States that are extraordinary, not the occupant of the office,” he said.
Merchan says that once the courtroom doors closed, the trial was not different from any other in the courthouse.
This court has never seen such a "unique and remarkable set of circumstance," judge says
Judge Juan Merchan says, “never before has this court been presented with such a unique and remarkable set of circumstance.” “This has been a truly extraordinary case,” he adds.
Trump leans forward as Merchan speaks
As Judge Juan Merchan speaks, President-elect Donald Trump is leaning forward.
Trump is alternating between looking ahead at Merchan and looking down and away from the screen.
Judge: A sentence is "one of the most difficult and significant decisions" a judge can make
President-elect Donald Trump just finished speaking in court. “Thank you Mr. Trump,” Judge Juan Merchan says. “The imposition of sentence is one of the most difficult and significant decisions that any criminal court judge is called upon to make,” Merchan adds.
Merchan says he believes that Trump needs to hear his reasoning for his sentence though he indicated his inclinations ahead of time.
Trump: "The fact is I'm totally innocent. I did nothing wrong"
Donald Trump is insisting he is innocent at his sentencing hearing this morning. “The fact is I’m totally innocent. I did nothing wrong,” he says.
Trump calls out his former lawyer, Michael Cohen
Donald Trump mentioned his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, referring to past remarks.
“He was allowed to talk like he was George Washington, but he’s not George Washington,” Trump said.
Trump details his election victory
President-elect Donald Trump is now discussing his 2024 election victory, saying in court that he won the popular vote by “millions and millions of votes” and noting that he won all seven swing states. “They’ve been watching your trial, so they understood it,” Trump said of the voters.
Trump points to accountants writing down legal expenses, not him
President-elect Donald Trump said legal fees were not put down by him, but by his accountants. “Legal fees were put down as legal expenses by accountants; they weren’t put down by me. They didn’t call them construction, concrete work,” Trump said. “They called a legal expense a legal expense and for this I got indicted. It’s incredible actually. “
Trump goes after indictment and charges of falsifying business records
Donald Trump is going after the indictment and the charges of falsifying business records — after he chose not to testify at the trial.
Trump says "this has been a very terrible experience"
President-elect Donald Trump begins his statement at today’s sentencing hearing, saying “this has been a very terrible experience.” “I think it’s been a setback for New York and the New York court system. This is a case that Alvin Bragg did not want to bring.”
Defense attorney says it's "a sad day for this country"
Trump attorney Todd Blanche says it’s a “sad day” for the US. “It’s a very sad day. It’s a sad day for President Trump, for his family and friends, but also in counsel’s view, a sad day for this country,” he says.
Trump's lawyers plan to appeal verdict
Todd Blanche, an attorney for President-elect Donald Trump, says the legal team intends to appeal the verdict. “A lot of what the government just said presupposes that this case is legally appropriate,” Blanche said following prosecutor Joshua Steinglass’s comments in court. Blanche noted that Trump’s lawyers intend to appeal the verdict.
“A majority of the American people also agree that this case should not have been brought,” Blanche added.
Defense attorney defends Trump's conduct, says he disagrees with prosecutors
Donald Trump’s attorney Todd Blanche is now arguing for the president-elect, saying he disagrees with prosecutors.
“I very, very much disagree with much of what the government just said about this case, about the legitimacy of what happened in this courtroom during the trial, and about President Trump’s conduct fighting this case,” Blanche says.
Trump is looking forward while Blanche speaks next to him, not reacting to what his attorney — and pick for deputy attorney general — is saying to the judge.
Probation officer reported Trump believed he was "above the law," prosecutor says
The probation officer who interviewed President-elect Donald Trump for the probation report wrote that Trump believed he was “above the law,” prosecutor Joshua Steinglass says.
"We must be respectful of the office of the presidency," prosecutor says of Trump's conduct
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass acknowledges that any other conditional discharge — meaning one with jail time, a fine or other penalty — has the potential to interfere with Trump’s obligations to the office of the presidency.
“We must be respectful of the office of the presidency” and his pending inauguration, Steingass says.
Steinglass went on to say that a sentence of unconditional discharge preserves Trump’s status as a convicted felon while he pursues his appeals and, “It gives full effect and respect of the verdict while preserving the defendant’s ability to govern.”
Prosecutor cites judge's comments on Trump's conduct being "direct attack on the rule of law"
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass points to Judge Juan Merchan’s previous comments that Trump’s conduct “constitutes a direct attack on the rule of law itself.”
“This defendant has caused enduring damage to the public perception of the criminal justice system,” Steinglass says.
Trump has been "unrelenting in his unsubstantiated attacks," prosecutor tells the court
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass tells the court that Trump has been “far from expressing any kind of remorse for his criminal conduct” and “encouraged others to reject the jury verdict.”
“He’s been unrelenting in his unsubstantiated attacks” on the court, prosecutors and the jury, Steinglass says of Trump.
Prosecutor lists things he says Trump has done to undermine verdict
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass is now listing off things he says President-elect Trump has done post-verdict to undermine the jury’s verdict.
As Steinglass started criticizing Trump, the president-elect leaned back in his chair and folded his arms, shaking his head side to side.
Trump is shuffling in his chair as prosecutor speaks
Donald Trump is shuffling in his chair while prosecutor John Steinglass speaks. He appears to be leaning forward to look at the screen.
Prosecutor: "The jury's verdict in this case was unanimous and decisive and it must be respected"
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass recapped the case briefly and said, “The jury’s verdict in this case was unanimous and decisive and it must be respected.”
He noted that the felonies Trump was convicted of could come with a prison sentence or other punishments without jail time.
Prosecutors recommend sentence of unconditional discharge
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass says they are recommending a sentence of unconditional discharge. “Your honor indicated an inclination to impose an unconditional discharge under all the circumstances of this case, this unique posture and the defendant’s status as president elect, the people recommend a sentence of unconditional discharge,” he said.
Judge: "Let's impose sentence, please"
“Let’s impose sentence, please,” Judge Juan Merchan says.
Prosecutor asks for more time to read probation report
Judge Juan Merchan asks the prosecutors if there’s anything they’d like to put on the record about the probation report.
Prosecutor Josh Steinglass asks for more time to read it, indicating they hadn’t seen it yet.
Then Steinglass says they have nothing to add to the record.
Trump attorney Todd Blanche spoke briefly to Trump while Steinglass was finishing reading the probation report. They are muted.
What it looks like in court this morning
On the video screen are four boxes. Judge Juan Merchan is on the upper left, President-elect Donald Trump and his attorney Todd Blanche are upper right, beneath them is his attorney Emil Bove and in the lower left is the prosecution table.
Trump is staring straight ahead while Merchan talks to Blanche.
Trump attorney says probation report has some out of date facts but won't impact today's hearing
President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney, Todd Blanche, says there are a few out of date facts in the probation report about other cases because of the date of the report. However, he says none of those details affect today’s hearing.
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Attorneys handed probation report
A probation report has been handed to the attorneys.
“Why don’t you take some time to look at it,” Judge Juan Merchan says.
Trump attorney Todd Blanche — who is appearing with Donald Trump virtually from Florida — confirms he received a copy of the probation report this morning
Trump and his attorney are appearing virtually from Florida
President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney Todd Blanche confirms they are appearing from Florida.
Judge Juan Merchan notes that Trump was allowed to appear in person or virtually and chose to appear virtually.
Judge Merchan is on the bench
Judge Juan Merchan is on the bench.
The court clerks have also entered the courtroom and are calling the case.
Trump and Blanche are smiling ahead of hearing
President-elect Donald Trump and his attorney Todd Blanche are smiling as they wait for Trump’s sentencing in the hush money case to start.
1 hr 20 min ago
Trump appears on screen
President-elect Donald Trump is now visible on the screen, seated in front of an American flag and beside Todd Blanche, his attorney.
He is speaking a bit to Blanche, but there is no audio.
He is wearing a dark suit, white shirt and red tie with stripes.
Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg has entered the courtroom
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has entered the courtroom.
He is seated in the galley behind the rest of the trial team.
Though Trump is unhappy about sentencing, his lawyers view expected lack of penalty as significant victory
From CNN's Paula Reid
Even though President-elect Donald Trump’s legal team fought to block Friday’s sentencing hearing from happening, they believe it is a significant victory that after being convicted of 34 felonies their client will only get an unconditional discharge, which is less than the penalty for a speeding ticket, a source familiar with their thinking tells CNN.
Trump is of course unhappy about the New York hush money case and the sentencing that symbolizes his felony conviction, and that anger has driven their zealous appeals. But Trump’s lawyers see this as “checking a box” so they can appeal his conviction, the source said.
His lawyers believe it’s a victory after he faced four criminal cases that he is facing no punishments and gets to be president again. Two federal cases related to January 6 and his handling of classified documents have been dismissed, and a Georgia district attorney has been disqualified in another case over efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in that state.
Trump’s lawyers expect Friday’s hearing to last about 45 minutes. In addition to comments from the judge and prosecutors, Trump lawyer Todd Blanche will speak during virtual appearance alongside his client. Trump lawyer Emil Bove also will be in courtroom.
It’s not yet clear if Trump, who is appearing virtually, will speak at the sentencing, according to the source.
Analysis: Trump to face embarrassment of criminal sentencing
The Supreme Court didn’t help Donald Trump … this time.
The court’s decision to deny the president-elect’s last-minute effort to delay sentencing in his New York hush money case sets up a stunning moment – a court date just 10 days before Trump is sworn in for a second term.
Judge Juan Merchan has already said he won’t impose a jail term. But the sentencing hearing will nevertheless mean that Trump will be the first president to take office with a criminal conviction written into his official record.
The proximity of the sentencing to Trump’s inauguration will create a stunning juxtaposition. He will be a defendant subject to the authority of a judge and a jury verdict who will within days assume the vast powers of the presidency and become the ultimate guardian of the nation’s laws and the Constitution.
Thursday’s ruling – in which two conservatives sided with liberal justices – may in some small measure reassure those who believed that the court’s decisions had challenged the idea that every American, no matter their position in life, is equal before the law.
But it will not quell the widespread anxiety among liberals that the conservative majority Trump built in his first term will show considerable deference to the commander in chief in a second administration that may test the rule of law and the Constitution more than his first.
Trump attacks judge in hush money case after Supreme Court allows sentencing to proceed
President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday attacked Judge Juan Merchan and said “this is a long way from finished” after the US Supreme Court ruled that Trump can be sentenced Friday in his hush money case.
“We’re going to appeal anyway, just psychologically, because frankly it’s a disgrace. It’s a judge that shouldn’t have been on the case,” Trump said as he addressed reporters at Mar-a-Lago.
Trump said, “They called for an appeal so I read it and I thought it was a fair decision, actually. So I’ll do my little thing tomorrow, they can have fun with their political opponent.”
“This is a long way from finished. And I respect the court’s opinion. It was a, I think it was actually a very good opinion for us because you saw what they said. But they invited the appeal, and the appeal is on the bigger issue,” Trump said.
“So we’ll see how it all works out. I think it’s going to work out well,” Trump said.
In 5-4 ruling, Supreme Court rejects Trump's request to delay his sentencing in hush money case
President-elect Donald Trump can be sentenced Friday in his New York hush money case, the Supreme Court said in a 5-4 ruling.
The high court on Thursday rejected Trump’s emergency request to delay the proceeding, setting the stage for him to be sentenced just days before he is inaugurated on January 20 for a second term.
Four conservative justices – Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh — said they would have granted Trump’s request. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the court’s three liberals to side against Trump.
Judge Juan Merchan, the New York judge who oversaw Trump’s trial, had ordered sentencing in the case for Friday morning but has signaled that Trump will face neither penalties nor prison time.
The sentencing hearing is scheduled for Friday at 9:30 a.m. ET.
In a brief, one-paragraph statement, the court said that some of Trump’s concerns could be handled “in the ordinary course on appeal.” The court also reasoned that the burden sentencing would impose on Trump’s responsibilities is “relatively insubstantial” in light of the trial court’s stated intent to impose no penalty.
Here's what to know about the hush money case and the 34 charges against Trump
From CNN staff
President-elect Donald Trump is set to be sentenced today on charges of business fraud related to hush money payment to Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election.
Here’s what you need to know about the case:
Trump was first indicted in March 2023 by the Manhattan district attorney on state charges related to a hush-money payment to an adult-film star in 2016.
On May 30, 2024 he was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree by 12 jurors. Prosecutors alleged during the trial that Trump was a part of an illegal conspiracy to undermine the integrity of the 2016 election.
Further they alleged he was part of an unlawful plan to suppress negative information and over payment to his then-lawyer Michael Cohen to reimburse a $130,000 hush money payment made to adult-film star Stormy Daniels to keep her from speaking out about an alleged affair before the 2016 election — Trump has denied the affair.
On November 19, 2024, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office told Judge Juan Merchan it would agree to delay Trump’s sentencing, which had been set for November 26, to allow time for the anticipated litigation around the president-elect’s expected motion to dismiss the case.
On November 22, 2024, Merchan indefinitely postponed the sentencing and granted Trump’s request to file a motion to dismiss the case.
On January 3, 2025, Merchan rejected Trump’s effort to throw out the jury’s verdict because of his reelection in November and upheld the conviction.
Merchan set a sentencing hearing for January 10, 2025, but indicated the case is essentially over.
Trump is set to be sworn in as president in less than two weeks.
Source : CNN minute by minute recording of the case and reporting.
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