Trump sentenced to unconditional discharge in New York hush money case, avoiding jail

This Court should enter an immediate stay of further proceedings in the New York trial court to prevent grave injustice and harm to the institution of the Presidency and the operations of the federal government."

Donald Trump's lawyers said Tuesday in their filing with the Supreme Court

I never falsified business records. It is a fake, made up charge,

the Republican president-elect wrote on his Truth Social platform last week

There was nothing else it could have been called, ... I was hiding nothing.”

he wrote on Truth Social last week, ... adding,

Merchan did that to blunt any argument that he was about to penalize Trump in a way that would interfere with his presidency,

Jones said

He’s going to go into a full stall and try to litigate this in front of other courts to try to get the sentencing off for Friday,

he revealed earlier this week

There's really no consequences on the conviction other than the fact that it's on his record,

he told The U.S. Sun

I think there are all kinds of circumstances that would militate against incarcerating Trump,

he said

I'm sure he would appeal that determination,

he said

A jury heard evidence for nearly seven weeks and pronounced its verdict; Defendant and the People were given every opportunity to address intervening decisions, to exhaust every possible motion in support of and in opposition to, their respective positions in what is an unprecedented, and likely never to be repeated legal scenario,

the judge said

This ruling ensures that no individual, regardless of position, is above the law."

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr. in a statement

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

he wrote

It is this Court’s firm belief that only by bringing finality to this matter will all three interests be served,

Merchan wrote in this ruling

This Court must sentence Defendant within a reasonable time following verdict; and Defendant must be permitted to avail himself of every available appeal, a path he has made clear he intends to pursue but which only becomes fully available upon sentencing,

Merchan said

Just take care of it, there’s a lot going on, ... This was a disaster, a fucking disaster … women will hate me.”

Cohen recalled Trump saying, and claimed he also remarked

He wasn’t thinking about Melania,

Cohen testified

To vacate this verdict on the grounds that the charges are insufficiently serious given the position Defendant once held, and is about to assume again, would constitute a disproportionate result and cause immeasurable damage to the citizenry's confidence in the Rule of Law,

he wrote

I don’t know how anyone can give any weight to that,

Blanche said

We believe that the sanctity of the jury verdict must be given primacy, must be upheld as part of the rule of law, but we’re also mindful of and respect the institution of the presidency."

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg told reporters Thursday

Indeed, as Defendant must surely know, the same Order was left undisturbed by the United States Supreme Court on December 9, 2024. Yet Defendant continues to undermine its legitimacy, in posts to his millions of followers,

Merchan wrote

It is time for Joe Biden and Merrick Garland to do the right thing and put a final stop to the political weaponization of our justice system,

spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement