Hush Money Conviction: Trump Awaits Sentence as President-Elect/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President-elect Donald Trump faces sentencing Friday in his hush money conviction, becoming the first person convicted of a felony to assume the presidency. Expected to receive an unconditional discharge, Trump maintains the charges are politically motivated. His sentencing comes amid stalled progress in other criminal cases against him.
Trump Sentencing: Quick Looks
- Historic Moment: Trump is the first U.S. president-elect to face sentencing for a felony.
- No Penalty Likely: Judge Juan M. Merchan indicated an unconditional discharge to avoid constitutional conflicts.
- Charges Explained: Trump was convicted of falsifying records to conceal a $130,000 payoff to Stormy Daniels.
- Trump’s Defense: He denies wrongdoing, calling the charges fabricated and politically motivated.
- Broader Context: Other criminal cases against Trump have been dropped or stalled ahead of trial.
Hush Money Conviction: Trump Awaits Sentence as President-Elect
Deep Look
In a historic moment, President-elect Donald Trump faces sentencing Friday for his conviction in a New York hush money case. The proceedings, which will take place via video conference from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, mark the first time in U.S. history that a convicted felon is set to assume the presidency.
The Charges and Conviction
The case centers on a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. Daniels alleged an extramarital affair with Trump, which he denies. Prosecutors argued that the payment, funneled through Trump’s attorney Michael Cohen and recorded as legal expenses, was part of an effort to suppress damaging information ahead of the election.
In May 2024, a jury convicted Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg called the crimes “serious offenses that harmed the sanctity of the electoral process and New York’s financial integrity.”
Trump has maintained his innocence, calling the charges fabricated. “I never falsified business records. It is a fake, made-up charge,” he wrote on Truth Social.
Expected Sentence
Judge Juan M. Merchan, who has postponed the sentencing multiple times, indicated that Trump will likely receive an unconditional discharge. This rare outcome means no jail time, probation, or fines. Merchan cited the need to avoid constitutional conflicts that could arise if the sentence interfered with Trump’s presidency.
Trump’s legal team made several last-minute attempts to delay sentencing, arguing that the case impinges on his transition to the presidency. However, the Supreme Court declined to intervene in a narrow 5-4 decision Thursday night.
Trump’s Legal and Political Defense
Throughout the trial, Trump and his lawyers have argued that the charges are politically motivated. They assert that Daniels was paid to protect Trump’s family, not his campaign, and that the payments were correctly recorded as legal expenses.
“There was nothing else it could have been called,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The defense also leaned heavily on claims of presidential immunity, bolstered by a Supreme Court ruling in July that grants former presidents considerable protection from prosecution. Trump was a private citizen when the payment was made but was serving as president when the reimbursements to Cohen occurred.
Other Legal Cases
The hush money case is the only one of four criminal indictments against Trump to go to trial. Federal prosecutions regarding his handling of classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 election were dropped after his November election victory.
In Georgia, a state election interference case remains in limbo following the removal of prosecutor Fani Willis.
Broader Implications
Trump’s sentencing underscores the unprecedented intersection of legal and political challenges facing the incoming administration. Judge Merchan emphasized the need to balance respect for the jury’s decision, public expectations of justice, and Trump’s responsibilities as president-elect.
Despite his legal troubles, Trump remains steadfast in his assertion of innocence, framing the cases as partisan attacks. As the nation awaits his January 20 inauguration, his hush money case serves as a defining moment in a deeply polarized political landscape.
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