January 10, 2025 – US President-elect Donald Trump has been spared jail time following his conviction related to hush money payments made during the 2016 election campaign. Despite the guilty verdict, Justice Juan Merchan sentenced Trump, 78, to an unconditional discharge, meaning a judgment of guilt will remain on his permanent record, but without further legal penalties like a fine or jail time.
Trump, who pleaded not guilty and vowed to appeal, called the case a “political witch hunt,” claiming that it was an attempt to harm his reputation and election chances. He argued that the charges were politically motivated, pointing to other legal issues as evidence of a broader effort to undermine him. The charges stemmed from a $130,000 payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, which Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, arranged to prevent Daniels from revealing an alleged affair.
This case marks the first criminal conviction of a sitting president-elect in U.S. history. Trump, the first president to take office with a criminal conviction, will continue his appeal while serving his term. The case was seen as less serious compared to other legal challenges Trump faces, including charges related to the 2020 election and classified documents. However, it remains significant due to its political ramifications, with Trump’s supporters rallying behind him despite the legal controversies.
