Drama As Court Hands Trump Unconditional Discharge Sentencing Over Hush Money Conviction

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By Abiola Olawale

The United States President-elect Donald Trump received details of his sentence in his New York hush money case on January 10, 2025.

The Presiding judge, Justice Juan Merchan opted for an unconditional discharge. This means Trump’s conviction would stand on his record, but he will not be subjected to incarceration, fines, or probation. With the judge opting for an “unconditional discharge.”

Judge Merchan held that incarceration was not a practical option due to Trump’s imminent return to the White House.

The New Diplomat reports that the sentencing decision comes just days before his scheduled inauguration on January 20, 2025.

It would be recalled that this comes after Trump was convicted in the New York hush-money case.

The incoming US President faced 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. These charges were elevated to felonies from misdemeanors because they were allegedly intended to commit or conceal another crime, specifically related to election laws.

The case revolved around payments made to silence allegations of extramarital affairs during Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

Michael Cohen, Trump’s former attorney, had arranged payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, which were then disguised as legal fees in the Trump Organization’s records.
After a trial that lasted several weeks, a jury found Trump guilty on all 34 counts. The decision was based on evidence that Trump had knowingly falsified records to hide these payments, which were seen as an attempt to influence the election.