The New York judge who presided over Donald Trump’s hush money case on Friday sentenced the president-elect to an “unconditional discharge,” meaning he is now a convicted felon in the eyes of New York state law but will face no further penalties.

President-elect Donald Trump appears remotely for a sentencing hearing in front of New York State Judge Juan Merchan in the criminal case in which he was convicted in 2024 on charges involving hush money paid to a porn star, at New York Criminal Court in Manhattan in New York, Jan. 10, 2025. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters via AP, Pool) AP

A New York state court judge sentenced Donald Trump in his hush money case to ‘unconditional discharge.’ What does that mean?

Trump's lawyers argued that the justices should step in and pause his sentencing "to prevent grave injustice and harm to the institution of the presidency."

President-elect Donald Trump was sentenced Jan. 10 to an unconditional discharge, in which a defendant isn’t fined, imprisoned or given probation. Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in May 2024.

A glum Donald Trump appeared virtually Friday at his sentencing for covering up hush money paid to a porn star, forcing him to revisit his felony conviction just days before he returns to the White House.

President-elect Donald Trump faces sentencing Friday for his New York hush money conviction after the nation’s highest court refused to intervene

President-elect Donald Trump was formally sentenced Friday in his hush money case, but the judge declined to impose any punishment