Judge Juan Merchan sentenced President-elect Donald Trump on Friday in Manhattan to no jail time, probation, or fines after he was convicted by a jury of falsifying business records.
Merchan imposed a sentence of “unconditional discharge,” which does not penalize Trump but rather closes the case and clears the way for the president-elect to appeal his conviction, which Trump has said he plans to do.
The historic hearing, during which Trump appeared virtually, marked the first time in history that a former or incoming president has been sentenced for felonies. A jury found in May after a six-week trial that he engaged in an unlawful hush money scheme ahead of the 2016 election to silence porn star Stormy Daniels about an alleged affair.
“Never before has this court been presented with such a unique and remarkable set of circumstances,” Merchan said at the…
