Donald Trump spared prison or fine as judge sentences him in historic NY case

 Trump attacks case on social media and says he will appeal

President-elect Donald Trump has just written a lengthy post on Truth Social.

"The Radical Democrats have lost another pathetic, unAmerican Witch Hunt," Donald Trump says.

Trump directly addresses his sentence of an unconditional discharge, which means he does not receive any fines or jail time despite being found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records.

The president-elect says this "result alone proves that, as all Legal Scholars and Experts have said, THERE IS NO CASE, THERE WAS NEVER A CASE, and this whole Scam fully deserves to be DISMISSED".

"Today’s event was a despicable charade, and now that it is over, we will appeal this Hoax," Trump adds.

During sentencing only about 40 minutes ago, the judge said he chose the sentence as it was "the most viable solution” in such an unprecedented situation - with Trump mere days away from taking office.

Justice Merchan said an unconditional disharge was the "only lawful sentence, without encroaching upon the highest office in the land".

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  1. Trump's case finishes with no fine or jail time, and a 'godspeed' message from the judge

    Anthony Zurcher
    BBC North America correspondent

    Donald Trump’s sentencing made for a jarring juxtaposition.

    Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass reviewed what he called the “overwhelming evidence” behind Trump’s criminal conviction and detailed how the president-elect had shown “disdain for our institutions and the rule of law” before, during and after the trial.

    He said Trump had “caused enduring damage to public perception for the criminal justice system” and put court officers in danger.

    And for that, Steinglass concluded, he should receive no formal punishment.

    In their response Trump and his lawyer were predictable. Both questioned the motivations and timing behind the president-elect’s prosecution, calling it election interference.

    Both pointed to Trump’s victory in November as vindication. And Trump again asserted his innocence, saying he had been treated “very, very unfairly”.

    When it came time for Justice Juan Merchan to hand down his sentence, he – perhaps unexpectedly – did not condemn the president-elect’s behaviour. Instead, he dwelled on how the protections and immunities Trump has been afforded came from the office of presidency and not from Trump as a private citizen or a criminal defendant.

    But the protections are there. And it means that Trump, convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, was sent on his way Friday morning with a simple “godspeed” from the judge, rather than any jail time or fine.

  2. Why did sentencing Trump take so long?

    Madeline Halpert
    Reporting from court

    Donald Trump was convicted of falsifying business records last May – but his sentencing for the felony conviction was pushed back several times.

    Initially, Trump was scheduled to be sentenced in July, but Justice Juan Merchan decided to push the date back after a ruling from the Supreme Court declaring that presidents are immune from prosecution for official acts.

    Merchan said he needed time to review the ruling.

    Another date was set for September, but Merchan decided to push the sentencing back until after the presidential election, which Trump eventually won.

    After even more legal back and forth, Merchan set a date of 10 January, today, for the sentencing - just before Trump is set to take office.

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