The elected president of the United States, Donald Trump, was sentenced this Friday in relation to the case involving hush money payments to silence an adult film actress. However, the Republican will not serve jail time.
The judge’s ruling comes just 10 days before Trump assumes his second term in the White House.
Why was Donald Trump sentenced?
Last May, a jury found Donald Trump guilty of 34 felony counts for falsifying business records, related to a $130,000 payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet before the 2016 presidential election.
Daniels received the money in exchange for not revealing details of her alleged sexual encounter with Trump a decade earlier, an accusation that the elected president has denied.
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What was Donald Trump’s sentence?
Manhattan Judge Juan Merchan issued a sentence of unconditional release for Trump, explaining that it was the only legal measure he could impose without interfering with Trump’s position as president. However, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass pointed out at the beginning of the hearing that the charges against him could result in a sentence of up to four years in prison.
“This has been a very terrible experience. This has been a political witch hunt,” Trump said, attending the hearing remotely.
With this conviction, Trump will become the first president in U.S. history to have a criminal record while occupying the Oval Office.
What is unconditional discharge?
Unconditional discharge is a legal concept that means a person has been convicted of a crime but will not face any penalties such as prison or probation.
As the name suggests, it involves an exemption from punishment without additional conditions, such as supervision or monitoring. While the conviction remains on the individual’s record, they do not have to fulfill legal obligations related to the case.
In Trump’s case, this means that the 34 felony convictions will remain on his criminal record, but they will not affect his presidential term. Additionally, his legal team has already indicated that they will appeal the sentence.
Does Donald Trump have a criminal record?
Unlike an expungement, which completely removes a conviction from someone’s record, or a pretrial diversion, which allows charges to be dismissed if certain requirements are met, unconditional discharge means no penalties like prison, fines, or probation apply.
The conviction stays on the record, but Trump will not face further legal consequences related to this case, unless he files an appeal and the ruling is overturned by a court.
When is Inauguration Day in the United States?
Inauguration Day, when Trump will take the oath of office as president of the United States, will take place next Monday, January 20.
Where will Donald Trump be inaugurated?
The inauguration ceremony will take place in Washington, D.C.
Where can I watch Trump’s inauguration?
Inauguration Day activities will be broadcast live on networks like ABC, CNN, NBC, and PBS. They can also be followed through digital platforms, such as the White House Live Stream, live broadcasts on X (formerly known as Twitter), and the White House’s official YouTube channel.
When was Donald Trump’s first term?
Trump won the 2016 presidential election, and his term in the White House lasted from 2017 to 2021. He later sought re-election but was defeated by current president Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.
