President-elect Donald Trump was sentenced in New York on Friday morning in the “hush money” case.
Judge Juan Merchan has sentenced Trump to an “unconditional discharge,” which Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office did not oppose.
Under New York state law, it’s a sentence imposed “without imprisonment, fine, or probation supervision.”
According to the law, such a sentence can be appropriate when the judge “is of the opinion that no proper purpose would be served by imposing any condition upon the defendant’s release.”
It is essentially a way to resolve the hush money case without Judge Merchan having to jail Trump or impose any penalties that could hinder his potential return to the White House.
At the end of the hearing, Judge Merchan issued words of encouragement to Trump.
“Sir, I wish you godspeed as you assume your second term in office,” Merchan said in his final statement to Trump.
