Trump’s hush money case, the first criminal trial of a president, ended when a judge sentenced him to an unconditional discharge. According to Justice Juan Merchan, this ruling enables the new president to take office without being hampered by legal proceedings.
The case, which focused on hush-money payments during the 2016 campaign, resulted in Trump’s felony conviction in May 2024. Despite the historic nature of this trial, Justice Merchan explained that it ultimately followed standard judicial procedures within the courtroom.
Trump’s sentence was delayed due to Supreme Court rulings and the November election but concluded with his remarkable political comeback. Trump alleged political intentions behind the lawsuit while announcing his innocence through a video call appearance from Florida.
Throughout the trial, Trump repeatedly emphasized his claim that the accusations showed the weaponization of the judicial system. However, prosecutors contended that Trump broke election rules by concealing facts that would harm voters.
The charges stemmed from Trump’s reimbursements of attorney Michael Cohen, who paid $130,000 to Stormy Daniels to remain silent about an alleged affair. Trump falsely recorded these payments as legal expenses, leading to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.
Despite maintaining his innocence, Trump leveraged the legal battle to energize supporters and secure his 2024 electoral victory. Justice Merchan explained that unconditional justice was served while respecting Trump’s position as president-elect.
Trump, the first US president convicted of a felony, will take the oath of office in 10 days. Concluding the historic trial, Justice Merchan expressed his hope for Trump’s success during his second term. Trump’s hush money case leaves a lasting mark on US legal history.
