Trump becomes first U.S. president sentenced as a felon

Los Angeles Times ^ | Jan. 10, 2025 Updated 7:22 AM PT | Michael R. Sisak, Jennifer Peltz, Jake Offenhartz and Michelle L. Price

[E. Pluribus Unum]

NEW YORK —  President-elect Donald Trump was sentenced Friday in his felony hush money case, but the judge declined to impose any punishment, an outcome that cements his conviction but frees him to return to the White House unencumbered by the threat of a jail term or a fine.

Trump’s sentence of an unconditional discharge caps a norm-smashing case that saw the former and future president charged with 34 felonies, put on trial for almost two months and convicted on every count. Yet, the legal detour — and sordid details aired in court of a plot to bury affair allegations — didn’t hurt him with voters, who elected him to a second term.

Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan could have sentenced the 78-year-old Republican to up to four years in prison. Instead, he chose a sentence that sidestepped thorny constitutional issues by effectively ending the case but assured that Trump will become the first person convicted of a felony to assume the presidency.

Merchan said that like when facing any other defendant, he must consider any aggravating factors before imposing a sentence, but the legal protection that Trump will have as president “is a factor that overrides all others.”

“Despite the extraordinary breadth of those legal protections, one power they do not provide is that they do not erase a jury verdict,” Merchan said.

Trump, briefly addressing the court as he appeared virtually from his Florida home, said his criminal trial and conviction has “been a very terrible experience” and insisted he committed no crime.

The former president, appearing on a video feed 10 days before he is again inaugurated, pilloried the case, the only one of his four criminal indictments that has gone to trial and possibly the only one that ever will.

“It’s been a political witch hunt....

[paudio]

Journalists of his era loved to write whatever Obama did as “The first, unprecedented Xxx”

[Not A Snowbird]

I do not care.

[Vision]

But not a real felon, a corrupt New York justice system grade felon which is a badge of honor.

[Big Red Badger]

PDJT Is in Good Company.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

But not a real felon, a corrupt New York justice system grade felon which is a badge of honor.

The real criminal in this case wears a black robe.

[clearcarbon]

"Trump becomes first U.S. president sentenced as a felon"

How much relevance to American culture does a spurious felony conviction have in a New York Stasi-style judicial system?

[KC_Conspirator]

Poll numbers will go up with this news. Everyone knows this is lawfare BS

[ArcadeQuarters]

Deport Merchan.

[FlingWingFlyer]

And I’ve still got my “I’m Voting for the Convicted Felon” hat inspired by those two far left douches, Fat Alvin the Chumpmunk and Juan the Colombian Coffee Bean. Without them, President Trump wouldn’t have been reelected.

[Pearfect]

DONT BUY THE LEFT WING LA TIMES

DONT BUT IT.

[Racketeer]

But, but, but I always thought a felon had to have a minimum of 1 year sentence imposed. Besides, each state has so many different ways to define a felon that the definition of a felon has been watered down considerably.

[cnsmom]

Every state has different requirements for a felony. One state’s 1st offense is a felony. In other states a slap on the wrist.

[11th_VA]

I believe all the Founding Fathers were found guilty of treason by the Brits ... he’s in good company

[Ancesthntr]

Will these azholes also say, “Trump first President exonerated from made up charges prosecuted in a kangaroo court” when that inevitably happens ????????

Yeah, I didn’t think so.

[The Great RJ]

The only reason Judge Merchan continued in this charade was to give the media jackals this talking point. These ‘felony convictions” are a joke. How can you convict someone of breaking the law yet impose no sentence not even probation? Other than the media talking heads who will foam at the mouth and rend their garments in indignation the millions of Trump supporters won’t give a rats behind. Nor will this in dome way change the election However, Judge Merchan may soon feel the wrath and haven to pay dearly for this travesty

[EandH Dad]

“Will Joe then be the second?”

Why would they waste a dime going after a dementia patient? He’s going to be sentenced to a Memory Care facility anyway.

[UMCRevMom@aol.com]

Thank you, greatly appreciate your comment #26 LOL

https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/4289348/posts?page=26#26

[clearcarbon]

"These ‘felony convictions” are a joke."

Merchan gave out felony convictions using a strange, inane logic similar to comrade biden giving out Presidential Medals of Honor.

[If You Want It Fixed - Fix It]

Though every one has been a felon.

[UMCRevMom@aol.com]

“Though every one has been a felon.”
https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/4289348/posts?page=99#99

Truth