Donald Trump gets ‘unconditional discharge’ in hush money scandal
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S Panda - . January 11, 2025
- . Update: January 11, 2025 1:47 pm
US President-elect Donald Trump has escaped prison time as Judge Juan Merchan granted him unconditional discharge in the hush money case. Through this ruling, Trump doesn’t need to go to jail, pay a fine or perform mandatory community service.
Trump is set to officially assume the presidency for the second time in less than 10 days. But he has indeed become the first US President – former or incumbent – to face a criminal trial, let alone a guilty ruling and subsequent sentencing.
Donald Trump had made a last-minute attempt to halt his sentencing. Judge Merchan noted that the decision announced on Friday has been influenced by the businessman-turned-politician’s recent presidential election triumph.
“It’s the citizenry of this nation that recently decided that once again you should have the benefits of those protections,” including, the supremacy clause and presidential immunity. Last year, Trump had been found guilty of falsifying business records.
