A New York judge on Friday upheld President-elect Donald J. Trump’s
felony conviction but signaled that he was inclined to spare him any punishment, a striking development in a case that had spotlighted an
array of criminal acts and imperiled the former and future president’s freedom.
The judge, Juan M. Merchan, indicated that he favored a so-called
unconditional discharge of Mr. Trump’s sentence, a rare and lenient alternative to jail or probation. He set a sentencing date of Jan. 10,
and ordered Mr. Trump to appear either in person or virtually.
An unconditional discharge would cement Mr. Trump’s status as a felon
just weeks before his inauguration — he would be the first to carry that dubious designation into the presidency — even as it would water down
the consequences for his crimes.
Unlike a conditional discharge, which allows defendants to walk free if
they meet certain requirements, such as maintaining employment or paying restitution, an unconditional discharge would come without strings attached.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/03/nyregion/trump-sentencing-hush-money-case-ny.html
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“We need to acknowledge he let us down. He went down a path he shouldn’t have, and we shouldn’t have followed him. We shouldn’t have listened to him, and we can’t let that happen ever again”.
-- Nikki Haley
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