Donald Trump was sentenced to “unconditional discharge” by Justice Juan Merchan in New York on Friday — just 10 days before his second inauguration — after being found guilty in his hush money trial last year.
The president-elect appeared virtually for the hearing and reiterated his objections to the case, repeating his claim that he was “very, very unfairly treated.”
Sentencing occurred after Trump’s multiple attempts to stop it failed. Ultimately, the Supreme Court declined to intervene, with justices ruling 5-4 in favor of allowing Merchan to proceed.
Trump was found guilty of falsifying records to disguise reimbursements for a $130,000 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels as legal expenses in 2016.
Trump was convicted on all 34 counts of falsifying business records by a jury of New Yorkers last May. Prosecutors said he misrepresented reimbursement payments to his lawyer, Michael Cohen, as legal fees. Cohen paid off adult film star Stormy Daniels in October 2016 to buy her silence ahead of the election about an alleged extramarital affair.
Trump insisted he would be filing a fresh appeal. He will be the first person convicted of a felony to hold the office of the presidency.
