Donald Trump received an unconditional discharge after being convicted of 34 charges related to hush money payments
Manhattan: So, Donald Trump just got an unconditional discharge after being found guilty of 34 charges tied to hush money payments to Stormy Daniels. Crazy, right? The judge, Juan Merchan, said it was the only sentence he could give because Trump is gearing up for a second presidential term.
He’ll be taking office again on January 20, and this sentence means no jail time or fines. In a different situation, Trump could have faced up to four years behind bars. But instead, he’s free to run for president again, making him the first person with a felony conviction to do so.
Now, what does an unconditional discharge even mean? It means Trump’s conviction stands, but he doesn’t have to deal with any conditions like probation or community service. He can go about his life without any restrictions, which is pretty wild considering the circumstances.
This whole case has been a rollercoaster, with Trump on trial for nearly two months during an election campaign. He was convicted on every count, but the judge decided to go easy on him. A conditional discharge would have meant he had to meet certain requirements, but that didn’t happen.
Judge Merchan hinted last week that he might give Trump a lenient sentence, saying it seemed like the best way to wrap things up. Trump was probably hoping for an acquittal, but this outcome is still a win for him, especially since his legal strategy seemed to work out.
Before handing down the sentence, the judge mentioned that he didn’t need to go over the aggravating factors in Trump’s case, like his constant attacks on the court and prosecutors. He acknowledged the special legal protections that come with being president, which played a big role in his decision.
Interestingly, an analysis showed that many defendants in similar cases in Manhattan usually get some jail time. But Trump? He’s the only one to walk away with an unconditional discharge. Meanwhile, Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, served time for related charges and was not happy about the whole situation.
Cohen took to social media to express his frustration, calling the sentencing “political theatre.” He said he’s never seen anyone get an unconditional discharge after a trial and feels it means Trump faces no real accountability. Cohen even mentioned that if he had known Trump wouldn’t be held accountable, he wouldn’t have testified at all.
