Former U.S. President Donald Trump was sentenced to an unconditional discharge in his hush money case, facing no jail time or fines. The case centered on 34 felony charges of falsifying business records tied to a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during Trump’s 2016 campaign, intended to suppress allegations of an affair. Trump denied the allegations and called the case a politically motivated “witch hunt.”
The sentencing was held virtually, with Trump criticizing the proceedings as a “weaponization of government.” Judge Juan M. Merchan, citing the unique circumstances, delivered the no-penalty sentence, allowing Trump to pursue his presidential campaign without legal barriers. Despite the conviction, Trump announced plans to appeal and continued to condemn the legal system. Prosecutors supported the sentence but expressed frustration over Trump’s attacks on the judiciary throughout the trial.
