On January 10, 2025, President-elect Donald Trump received a unique ruling in his hush money case, as the presiding judge opted not to impose any punishment. This decision solidifies Trump’s felony conviction while allowing him to pursue the presidency without the looming threat of incarceration or financial penalties.
The outcome of this case marks a significant moment in U.S. history, as it is the first instance of a former president and major presidential candidate facing criminal charges in court. Among the four criminal indictments against him, this was the only case to go to trial, and it may remain the only one to do so.
Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan had the authority to sentence the 78-year-old Republican to a maximum of four years in prison. However, he chose a sentence that effectively concludes the case, avoiding complex constitutional issues while ensuring that Trump will be the first individual convicted of a felony to assume the presidency.
Unlike his previous trial in 2024, where Trump appeared in person and addressed the media, he participated virtually from his residence in Palm Beach, Florida, during the January 10 hearing. Dressed in a dark suit and seated beside one of his attorneys, Trump maintained his innocence, claiming, “It’s been a political witch hunt. It was done to damage my reputation so that I would lose the election, and, obviously, that didn’t work.”
Trump characterized the case as a “weaponization of government” and labeled it “an embarrassment to New York.” Following the hearing, he took to social media to describe the proceedings as a “despicable charade” and announced his intention to appeal the conviction.
The judge’s decision to grant Trump an unconditional discharge—a rare outcome for felony convictions—includes a case that has challenged legal norms. Trump faced 34 felony charges, underwent a nearly two-month trial, and was found guilty on all counts. Despite the scandalous details revealed during the trial, the legal troubles did not deter voters, who re-elected him for a second term.
Judge Merchan explained that, like any other defendant, he had to consider aggravating factors before determining a sentence. However, he noted that the legal protections afforded Trump as President “override all others.” He emphasized that while these protections are extensive, they do not extend to erasing a jury’s verdict.
As the judge acknowledged the voters’ decision to return Trump to power, the former president appeared relaxed, leaning back in his chair. The charges against him revolved around financial transactions related to hush money payments, which were allegedly made to silence claims of extramarital affairs.
Prosecutors contended that Trump’s former attorney, Michael Cohen, facilitated payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to prevent damaging stories from surfacing during the 2016 election. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he sought to protect his family rather than his political campaign.
His legal team argued that the reimbursements to Cohen were legitimate legal expenses, contrary to the prosecution’s claims of deceptive accounting.
Trump’s attorneys made numerous attempts to delay the trial and sentencing, exploring every legal avenue available to overturn the conviction or dismiss the case. They heavily relied on arguments of presidential immunity, which gained traction following a Supreme Court ruling in July 2024 that granted former presidents significant legal protections.
The payments to Daniels occurred while Trump was a private citizen and presidential candidate in 2016, with reimbursements made during his presidency in 2017. Judge Merchan, a Democrat, had postponed the sentencing multiple times, initially scheduled for July, but ultimately set the January date to bring closure to the case.
In the days leading up to the sentencing, Trump’s legal team made last-minute efforts to block the proceedings. Their final chance to delay the sentencing was extinguished with a 5-4 Supreme Court ruling on January 9, 2025, which declined to intervene.
Meanwhile, other criminal cases that had previously posed challenges for Trump have either concluded or stalled. Following Trump’s election, special counsel Jack Smith wrapped up federal investigations related to Trump’s handling of classified documents and his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results against Democrat Joe Biden.
Additionally, a state-level case in Georgia concerning election interference remains uncertain after the prosecutor, Fani Willis, was removed from the case.
