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- May 11, 2013
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(The Guardian) Judge sentences Trump to unconditional discharge, allowing president-elect to avoid jail time, fines or probation
Judge Juan Merchan has sentenced Donald Trump to unconditional discharge in the hush money case, meaning he will avoid jail time, fines or probation.
Judge cites Trump's return to White House as rationale for unconditional discharge sentence
Judge Juan Merchan laid out his rationale for imposing the sentence of unconditional discharge on the president-elect. -- “The protections afforded the office of the president are not a mitigating factor. They do not reduce the seriousness of the crime or justify its commission in any way,” the judge said.
“The protections are, however, a legal mandate which, pursuant to the rule of law, this court must respect and follow. However, despite the extraordinary breadth of those protections, one power they do not provide is the power to erase a jury verdict.”
He then handed down his sentence, noting that it is influenced by Trump’s recent presidential election victory: It was the citizenry of this nation that recently decided that once again you should have the benefits of those protections which include, among other things, the supremacy clause and presidential immunity. It is through that lens and that reality that this court must determine a lawful sentence.
This court has determined that the only lawful sentence that permits entry of judgment of conviction, without encroaching on the highest office of the land is unconditional discharge. Therefore, at this time, I impose that sentence to cover all 34 counts.
Merchan concluded with: “Sir, I wish you godspeed as you assume your second term in office.”
Judge Juan Merchan has sentenced Donald Trump to unconditional discharge in the hush money case, meaning he will avoid jail time, fines or probation.
Judge cites Trump's return to White House as rationale for unconditional discharge sentence
Judge Juan Merchan laid out his rationale for imposing the sentence of unconditional discharge on the president-elect. -- “The protections afforded the office of the president are not a mitigating factor. They do not reduce the seriousness of the crime or justify its commission in any way,” the judge said.
“The protections are, however, a legal mandate which, pursuant to the rule of law, this court must respect and follow. However, despite the extraordinary breadth of those protections, one power they do not provide is the power to erase a jury verdict.”
He then handed down his sentence, noting that it is influenced by Trump’s recent presidential election victory: It was the citizenry of this nation that recently decided that once again you should have the benefits of those protections which include, among other things, the supremacy clause and presidential immunity. It is through that lens and that reality that this court must determine a lawful sentence.
This court has determined that the only lawful sentence that permits entry of judgment of conviction, without encroaching on the highest office of the land is unconditional discharge. Therefore, at this time, I impose that sentence to cover all 34 counts.
Merchan concluded with: “Sir, I wish you godspeed as you assume your second term in office.”
