On Friday, January 10th, 2025, Donald Trump, the former president and now president-elect, faced sentencing in his New York hush money case. Judge Juan Merchan handed Trump an unconditional discharge, sparing him from jail time, fines, or probation. However, the decision still cements Trump’s status as the first convicted felon to occupy the White House.
Trump wasted no time voicing his anger. In a Truth Social post, he called the sentencing a “despicable charade,” claiming the case lacked “crime, damages, proof, facts, or Law.” He further described it as “political Election Interference” and vowed to appeal the ruling, promising his supporters that he would “restore trust in the American justice system.”
President Trump just lashed out at NY’s weaponized Legal System and 6 years of a politically driven witch hunt.
“The Radical Democrats have lost another pathetic, unAmerican Witch Hunt. After spending tens of millions of dollars, wasting over 6 years of obsessive work that… pic.twitter.com/ehy1rGAbpl
— Carolina Patriot (@ACarolinaGuy) January 10, 2025
This reaction mirrors Trump’s response to earlier setbacks in the case, including the judge’s refusal to dismiss it. As previously reported, Trump has often taken to social media to lash out at prosecutors, judges, and political opponents, labeling them part of a “witch hunt.” His approach has been consistent—defiance, outrage, and calls to rally his base.
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This legal battle dates back to 2016 when Trump allegedly paid $130,000 to adult film star Stormy Daniels to prevent her from speaking out about an alleged affair. While Trump denies the affair, prosecutors argued that the payment was a clear attempt to influence the 2016 election by concealing damaging information.
What elevated this case to a felony level was the accusation that Trump falsified business records to hide the payment. This, according to prosecutors, was done to cover up a violation of election laws. In the spring of 2024, a New York jury convicted Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records.
In the days leading up to the sentencing, Trump’s legal team made frantic attempts to delay the process. They appealed to the Supreme Court, asking for a halt to the proceedings. However, on January 9th, the Supreme Court rejected Trump’s request in a 5-4 decision. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the court’s liberal justices to deny Trump’s appeal.
After the ruling, Trump maintained a defiant tone. Speaking at Mar-a-Lago, he said, “I thought it was a fair decision, actually. They can have fun with their political opponent.” His words reflected his ongoing strategy of portraying himself as a victim of political persecution.
Trump’s conviction and sentencing mark a historic moment. He will enter office as the first U.S. president with a criminal conviction.
The case has drawn comparisons to past presidential scandals, such as Watergate. However, unlike Richard Nixon, who resigned to avoid prosecution, Trump has embraced his legal battles as part of his political narrative. This move has both energized his supporters and deepened the divide in American politics.
Trump’s legal team has already announced plans to appeal the conviction. For now, he is free to focus on his upcoming inauguration and presidency. However, his legal troubles are far from over. The hush money case is just one of several legal challenges Trump faces, raising questions about how these issues might affect his ability to govern.
Featured image via Political Tribune Gallery