Trump sentenced in hush money case, judge declines to impose any punishment
President-elect Donald Trump was formally sentenced Friday morning in his hush money case. The judge declined to impose any punishment.
According to the Associated Press, the outcome cements Trump’s conviction while freeing him to return to the White House unencumbered by the threat of a jail term or a fine.
The sentencing hearing comes just 10 days before Trump is set to take office on Jan. 20, making him poised to be the first president to take office after being convicted of crimes.
Here’s what to know about the day’s proceedings:
Supreme Court rejects Trump’s bid to delay sentencing in his New York hush money case
The court’s 5-4 order Thursday clears the way for Judge Juan M. Merchan to impose a sentence Friday on Trump.
Trump sentenced
It’s unclear what sentence Judge Juan M. Merchan will hand down Friday, though Merchan has indicated it won’t be jail time.
Trump is also subject to being fined or put on probation.
The conviction carried a maximum penalty of up to four years in prison.
What is Trump being sentenced for?
Trump was found guilty on May 30, 2024, of 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier. The payment was made shortly before the 2016 election.
Trump says they did not have sex and denies any wrongdoing.
Trump’s legal fight
Trump’s legal team has been pushing to postpone the sentencing while they appealed a decision to uphold the verdict. If Trump's sentencing didn’t happen before Inauguration Day, presidential immunity could have put it on hold until he leaves office.
Trump initially asked the judge to overturn his conviction and dismiss the case because of the U.S. Supreme Court’s July presidential immunity ruling.
After Trump’s election win, his lawyers redoubled their efforts, arguing that dismissing the case "in the interests of justice" was warranted both under the immunity ruling and because of his status as president-elect.
And in December, Trump’s legal team pushed for a dismissal again after President Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, on tax and gun convictions.
RELATED: Trump seeks dismissal of hush money case, citing Hunter Biden's pardon
And in a last ditch effort, Trump asked the Supreme Court earlier this week to call off the sentencing.
Because it is a state case, Trump would not be able to pardon himself once he returns to office. Presidential pardons apply only to federal crimes.
The Source: Information in this report was based on public legal filings submitted by Donald Trump's lawyers, recent courtroom developments presided over by Manhattan Judge Juan Merchan, and references to past trial details and legal arguments. Background information was used from The Associated Press.