NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump was formally sentenced Friday in his hush money case, but the judge declined to impose any punishment. The outcome cements Trump’s conviction while freeing him to return to the White House unencumbered by the threat of a jail term or a fine.
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Trump’s sentence of an unconditional discharge caps a norm-smashing case that saw the former and future president charged with 34 felonies, put on trial for almost two months and convicted on every count. Yet, the legal detour — and sordid details aired in court of a plot to bury affair allegations — didn’t hurt him with voters, who elected him to a second term.
Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan could have sentenced the 78-year-old Republican to up to four years in prison. Instead, he chose a sentence that sidestepped thorny constitutional issues by effectively ending the case but assured that Trump will become the first person convicted of a felony to assume the presidency.
Trump said his criminal trial and conviction haS “been a very terrible experience” and insisted he committed no crime as he appeared virtually Friday to be sentenced.
The judge would never put Trump in jail. There would be riots in the streets outside his courthouse worse than Jan 6.
Should’ve put trump in jail.wouldve gotten the judge a few bullets in his head
So now where are all the loud mouths who I told that Trump will never sit a day in prison. I always said he may be found guilty but to bad he is above the law and won’t sit in prison. All you naive people thought oh you will lock him up. Fools. I told you so.