On Friday, the audio of President-elect Donald Trump’s sentencing hearing in New York City was made public, giving everyone a glimpse into this historic moment. It’s the first time in U.S. history that a former president has faced such a conviction, and Trump was ultimately sentenced to an “unconditional discharge.”
Trump joined the hearing virtually, and as he spoke to the court, he described the entire ordeal as “a very terrible experience.” He went on to say, “I think it’s been a tremendous setback for New York and the New York court system.”
He didn’t hold back his feelings about the case. Trump suggested that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg never really wanted to pursue the case. According to Trump, it was mishandled before Bragg even got involved. He even mentioned a law firm member, who he claimed was involved with his political opponent and acted improperly.
Trump made his thoughts on the situation clear: “I think it’s an embarrassment to New York,” he said. “New York has a lot of problems, but this is a great embarrassment.” He also leaned in toward Judge Juan Merchan at one point and brought up the November election, implying that the people had rejected this case by voting for him.
He called the entire legal process a “political witch hunt” aimed at ruining his reputation before the election. “And obviously, that didn’t work,” he added, noting that he won the election despite everything.
On the other side, Assistant District Attorney Josh Steinglass pointed to the “overwhelming evidence” that supported the jury’s verdict. He criticized Trump for the comments he made throughout the trial, saying they hurt the public’s trust in the criminal justice system and put legal officers at risk.
Trump’s defense lawyer, Todd Blanche, disagreed strongly with the prosecution. He said he had issues with how the case was handled, both before and after the indictment, and with how Trump’s actions were portrayed in the courtroom.
Judge Merchan, who had to make the difficult decision of sentencing, said it was a unique case. “Never before has this court been presented with such a unique set of circumstances,” he remarked, noting the media frenzy and security concerns surrounding the case. But he also made it clear: once the courtroom doors closed, the trial was no different from any other case.
While Merchan acknowledged the special legal protections afforded to Trump, he reminded everyone that these protections do not extend to undoing a jury’s verdict.
At the end of the hearing, Judge Merchan said, “Sir, I wish you Godspeed as you assume the second term in office.”
As for the sentence, Trump received an “unconditional discharge,” which means no jail time, fines, or probation. It also allows him to appeal the conviction if he chooses to do so. “After careful analysis, this court determined the only lawful sentence that permits entry of judgment of conviction is an unconditional discharge,” Merchan explained.
Trump’s legal team confirmed that they will appeal the conviction. Despite the legal challenges, Trump is set to be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on January 20.
This case is certainly one for the history books, and it’s far from over. Stay tuned for more updates as it unfolds!