Former President Donald Trump has been sentenced to an unconditional discharge following his conviction in the hush money case, making him the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a felony.
The sentencing, which occurred just 10 days before his scheduled second-term inauguration, was marked by a legal battle over whether it should be delayed pending his appeal.
Prosecutors argued against postponing the sentencing, asserting that it would be improper for the Supreme Court to intervene since Trump still had legal options for appeal in New York.
An unconditional discharge upholds the jury’s guilty verdict without imposing further sanctions, meaning Trump will not face immediate prison time, though he could have been sentenced to up to four years.
Ahead of the sentencing, former prosecutor Bennett Gershman criticized Trump’s actions, stating, “He’s thumbing his nose at the judge, the jury, and the justice system.”
Meanwhile, outside the courthouse, Trump supporters displayed a giant banner with his name despite strong winds, while anti-Trump demonstrators held signs reading “Trump is guilty.”
Trump’s legal team had requested the sentencing be postponed pending an appeal, but their request was denied by New York State Associate Justice Ellen Gesmer earlier in the week.
Despite repeatedly labeling the prosecution a “witch hunt,” Trump’s defense was met with stern criticism from legal experts. Steinglass, a prosecutor, noted, “This defendant has caused enduring damage to public perception of the criminal justice system.”
In a dramatic political turn, Trump was certified as the winner of the 2024 presidential election earlier this week, marking a significant comeback just four years after the January 6th Capitol riot, which his supporters attempted to use to overturn his 2020 defeat.
