The judge in the case known as “buying silence” against President-elect Donald Trump issued a ruling “unconditional release of the American president-elect without a prison sentence or a fine.”
Trump appeared via video conference during his sentencing hearing in connection with his conviction in the case of paying money to pornographic film actress Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence.
Judge Juan Merchan, who oversaw a six-week trial last year, said he did not plan to send Trump to prison or fine him.
But by granting him unconditional release, the conviction will be on Trump’s permanent record. Trump, 78, pleaded not guilty and pledged to appeal the conviction.
Trump appeared with his lawyer on television screens in the courtroom, with two United States flags appearing in the background.
The president-elect fought tooth and nail to avoid the spectacle of being forced to appear before a statewide judge just days before his return to office.
On Thursday, the US Supreme Court rejected a last-minute request by Trump to suspend the ruling.
Shortly after that, Trump wrote on his social platform, “Truth Social,” “I am innocent of all the false accusations that the judge invented,” adding that he would continue to appeal this case. Trump attacked Judge Juan Merchan, describing him as “very political and corrupt.”
In March 2023, the Manhattan District Attorney charged Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up his former lawyer Michael Cohen’s payment of $130,000 to Daniels to buy her silence before the 2016 election regarding what she said was a casual sexual relationship with Trump, who denied it.
Trump won the presidential election at the time over his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton.
On May 30, a Manhattan jury convicted Trump on all charges. Prosecutors said that despite the vulgar nature of the accusations, the case was an attempt to corrupt the 2016 election.
Last updated: January 11, 2025 – 18:04
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