Trump Sentenced in Hush Money Case: Unconditional Discharge on 34 Felony Counts, No Jail or Fine
On January 10, 2025, the Criminal Term of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, sitting at 100 Centre Street in Manhattan (New York County), New York City, sentenced President-elect Donald Trump to an unconditional discharge on his 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree — no imprisonment, no fine and no probation supervision, with the convictions standing.
Justice Juan Merchan said in imposing sentence that, after careful analysis and obedience to governing mandates, the Court had determined that the only lawful sentence that permits entry of a judgment of conviction without encroaching upon the highest office in the land is an unconditional discharge, and he imposed that sentence to cover all 34 counts. He closed by telling Trump: "Sir, I wish you Godspeed as you assume your second term in office."
The case is Indictment No. 71543-2023. In May 2024 a jury unanimously found Trump guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, finding that he falsified 34 separate entries in his business records with intent to defraud, which included an intent to commit or conceal a conspiracy to promote his own election by unlawful means. Each count carried an authorized range of one and one-third to four years in state prison.
The prosecution was conducted by the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass recommended a sentence of unconditional discharge, citing the unique posture of the case and the defendant's status as President-elect: sentencing would enter judgment and cement the defendant's status as a convicted felon while he pursued his appeals, and the American public has the right to a presidency unencumbered by pending court proceedings. Trump appeared virtually from Florida by leave of the Court; his attorney Todd Blanche appeared virtually with him and Emil Bove appeared in person. The defense stated in court that it intended to appeal the verdict.
The sentencing came ten days before the January 20 inauguration. On the evening of January 9, the U.S. Supreme Court, by a 5-4 vote, declined Trump's emergency request to halt the proceeding, and the sentencing went forward as scheduled. Trump thus became the first person in American history to assume the presidency with a felony conviction on his record.
(Source: Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York)
Source: Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于纽约市曼哈顿中央街100号的纽约县刑事法院大楼，本案宣判即在此举行。（Beyond My Ken 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons） / Photo: The New York County Criminal Courts Building at 100 Centre Street in Manhattan, New York City, where the sentencing took place. (Photo by Beyond My Ken, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
