Trump avoids jail time with ‘unconditional discharge’ sentence in hush money case as protesters picket outside court

DONALD Trump has emerged unscathed as he avoids prison time with an unconditional discharge sentence, cementing his status as the first felon to serve in the White House.

Despite the president-elect’s repeated efforts to dismiss the case, citing his Election Day victory and his right to presidential immunity, Judge Juan Merchan had the final say during Friday’s sentencing.

President-elect Donald Trump appears remotely for his sentencing hearing in his hush money caseReuters

A Trump supporter wearing a black MAGA hat outside the Manhattan criminal courthouseAP:Associated Press

Trump supporters display a giant flag that reads ‘Trump Won Trifecta’ outside the Manhattan Criminal CourtAFP or licensors

An inside look at the courtroom where President-elect Donald Trump is to be sentencedAFP

Donald Trump appeared remotely from his Mar-a-Lago estate in FloridaAFP

Anti-Trump demonstrators protest outside Manhattan criminal court before the start of the sentencing of the president-electAP:Associated Press

As he began the proceeding, Judge Merchan greeted the courtroom and Trump, saying, “Good morning, Mr. Trump,” to which the president-elect did not respond.

President-elect Trump and his lead attorney, Todd Blanche, appeared together in the courtroom virtually from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.

Trump was seen on video wearing a red tie with white strips and a backdrop of American flags behind him and Blanche.

Both men wore American flag pins on their suit jackets.

Trump shook his head as Judge Merchan read out the 34 criminal counts the president-elect was convicted of on May 30, 2024.

“This defendant has caused enduring damage to public perception of the criminal justice system and has placed officers of the court in harm’s way,” prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said.

Steinglass ripped the president-elect, saying that rather than “express any remorse for his criminal acts,” he has spread disdain for our institutions and the rule of law.”

Trump disputed the prosecution’s statements, repeating his sentiment that the case is a “political witch hunt.”

“This has been a very terrible experience,” the president-elect said on video.

“I think it has been tremendous set back for New York and the New York court system.”

A group of anti-Trump protesters as well supporters of the president-elect gathered outside Manhattan Criminal Court ahead of the sentencing.

Pro-Trump demonstrators united to support the president-elect as one protester carried a large blue, red, and white “Trump Make America Great Again” banner.

Trump proclaimed his innocence ahead of the proceeding, blasting the sentencing as a “weaponization of the justice system against a political opponent.”

SUPREME COURT EFFORT

The president-elect and his legal team filed an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court on Wednesday in a final ditch effort to prevent the sentencing from moving forward as scheduled.

However, in a surprising 5 to 4 decision, the Supreme Court denied Trump‘s bid, arguing that the sentencing that would be imposed on the president-elect’s responsibilities is “relatively insubstantial.”

The majority included conservative judges Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. and Amy Coney Barrett, who sided with their liberal counterparts, Justices Sona Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson.

Justice Barrett is a Trump appointee who was nominated to the higher court during his first term in September 2020.

Four of the court’s conservative justices – Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito Jr., Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh – noted disagreements without providing reasons.

“I appreciate the time and effort of the United States Supreme Court in trying to remedy the great injustice done to me by the highly conflicted ‘Acting Justice,’ who should not have been allowed to try this case,” Trump wrote on Truth Social after the Supreme Court denied his request.

“Every Legal Scholar state, unequivocally, that this is a case that should never have been brought.

“There was no case against me. In order words, I am innocent of all the Judge’s made up, fake charges.

“This was nothing other than Weaponization of our Justice System against a Political Opponent.

“It’s called Lawfare, and nothing like this has ever happened in the United States of America, and it should never be allowed to happen again.”

A sketch photo of porn star Stormy Daniels testifying during Trump’s hush money trialReuters

Protesters holding up anti-Donald Trump signs outside the Lower Manhattan courthouseAP:Associated Press

Donald Trump seated at the defense table during his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024AFP or licensors

The president-elect continued, “To this day, this highly political and corrupt Judge has put a gag order on me, which takes away my First Amendment right to speak about very important aspects of the case.

“For the sake and sanctity of the Presidency, I will be appealing this case, and am confident that JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL.

“The pathetic, dying remnants of the Witch Hunts against me will not distract us as we unite and, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

For months, Trump’s sentencing was delayed several times due to the Supreme Court’s presidential immunity ruling in July and a flurry of motions by his legal team.

Then, after his Election Day victory, the sentencing was derailed again as Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Trump’s legal team reevaluated how to proceed with the case.

Donald Trump pictured during closing arguments in the Trump Organization civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court in January 2024AP:Associated Press

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