Trump gets no punishment for conviction in hush money case
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US president-elect Donald Trump did not receive any punishment following his conviction in a hush money case, judge Juan Merchan ruled on Friday. The finding that the 78-year-old Republican committed a crime does stand. Trump's lawyers already made it clear that they will appeal.
Trump had already been found guilty by a 12-member jury in New York in late May 2024 on 34 charges, including tampering with corporate records to cover up the payment of 130,000 dollars in hush money to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the final weeks of the 2016 presidential campaign. Such a payment is not in itself illegal, but Trump and his lawyers tried to cover up the true reason for the transaction when he repaid the amount to his then personal lawyer Michael Cohen.
Since this is a state-level case, Trump cannot pardon himself. The Republican was not present in court in person, but followed the hearing virtually from his estate in Mar-a-Lago, Florida.
Originally, Trump was supposed to hear his sentence as early as 11 July, but that hearing was postponed several times. First because the US Supreme Court issued a ruling stating that (former) presidents have far-reaching immunity. Further delays followed after Trump won the presidential election.
However, in early January, judge Juan Merchan announced that the president-elect would hear his sentence on Friday 10 January. Merchan also announced that he was not inclined to impose a prison sentence, opting instead for a so-called “unconditional discharge”, which does not involve sanctions or conditions.
On 20 January, Trump will be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States as the first US president ever with a conviction to his name and with a criminal record.
Donald Trump © BELGA PHOTO Brendan McDermid / POOL / AFP
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