US President-elect Donald Trump was formally sentenced on Friday in his hush-money case, but the judge declined to impose any punishment. This outcome solidifies Trump’s conviction while allowing him to return to the White House without the threat of a jail term or a fine.
Trump’s unconditional discharge concludes a case that shattered legal norms, involving 34 felonies, a nearly two-month trial, and a conviction on every count. However, the legal detour and the sordid details revealed in court about a plot to conceal the affair allegations did not impact his popularity with voters, who re-elected him for a second term.
Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan had the option of sentencing Trump to up to four years in prison. Instead, he opted for a sentence that circumvented complex constitutional issues by effectively ending the case while ensuring that Trump will become the first person convicted of a felony to assume the presidency.
