Merchan sentenced Trump to unconditional discharge for 34 counts of falsifying business records.
“At this time I impose that sentence to cover all 34 counts,” he said.
Merchan said he wishes Trump godspeed for his second term in office.
DELIVERING THE JUDGMENT
Judge Merchan is beginning to deliver Trump’s sentence. He is explaining his reasoning, nodding to the gravity any judge faces in determining what is a just sentence.
“Never before has this court been presented with such a unique and remarkable set of circumstances,” Merchan said.
Merchan wants to emphasize that the trial itself was conduct pursuant to the same rules of procedure and law that applies to any other trial, and that once the courtroom doors were closed, the trial was “ordinary” even if the circumstances surrounding this sentencing are anything but. But in a swipe at Trump, he is now making clear that the office of the president itself, not the occupant, is what is exceptional here
“This has been a truly extraordinary case,” the judge continued. “Once the courtroom doors were closed, the trial itself was no more special, unique, and extraordinary than the other 32 cases in this courthouse.”
Trump complains about gag order
Trump complained about his gag order while speaking during the sentencing hearing.
“I was under a gag order. I guess I’m still under so I probably won’t do it now. I am totally innocent. I did nothing wrong,” he said.
Trump is still under a gag order in the case.
Trump says the case was brought to attack his presidential campaign
Adam Reiss, Gary Grumbach and Rebecca Shabad
Trump said that New York prosecutors brought the hush money case against him in order to attack his presidential campaign.
“This has been a political witch hunt,” he said. “It was done to damage my reputation so I would lose the election.”
Trump: ‘A very terrible experience’
Addressing the court, Trump said the case has been a “setback for New York.”
“This has been a very terrible experience,” Trump said through the screen in the courtroom.
He went on to say that the case is a setback for the New York court system, and was “inappropriately handled” by DA Bragg.
Trump called Bragg a “criminal” who was acting as a political opponent.
“They weren’t put down by me, they were put down by accountants,” Trump said.
Trump lawyer argues against the merits of the case
Adam Reiss, Gary Grumbach and Rebecca Shabad
Blanche said that he disagrees with much of the government’s argument about the case and what happened during the trial “and about President Trump’s conduct fighting this case from before it was indicted, to while it was indicted, to the jury’s verdict, and even to this day.”
Blanche said that Trump’s legal team disagrees that it was an appropriate case to be brought, saying that multiple prosecutors had previously looked at the case and decided not to bring charges before Bragg did.
Blanche says they intend to appeal sentence
Blanche called today a “very sad day” both for the country and for Trump. He said he would appeal whatever sentence is brought against the incoming president.
“This is a case that without a doubt was brought by a district attorney who promised he would go after President Trump if elected, and he had to go through with that promise,” he said.
Prosecution says Trump has caused ‘enduring damage’ to the public perception of the justice system
Gary Grumbach, Adam Reiss and Kyla Guilfoil
Steinglass told Judge Merchan that Trump’s “unrelenting attacks against this court and their families” have been “a direct attack on the rule of law” and threatens the criminal justice system itself.
The prosecutor told the court that Trump called this trial “Corrupt, Rigged, a Witch hunt or a sham too many times to count.” He added that the president-elect has been held in contempt on other matters and that he has threatened to retaliate against the prosecution.
Steinglass said Trump is doing this “with the hopes that they will ignore the defendant’s transgressions because they fear he is simply too powerful to be subjected to the same rule of law as the rest of us.”
The prosecutor said that Merchan should be mindful of that contempt, saying that ultimately, “this defendant has caused enduring damage to the public perception of the criminal justice system.”
Trump complained about his gag order while speaking during the sentencing hearing.
“I was under a gag order. I guess I’m still under so I probably won’t do it now. I am totally innocent. I did nothing wrong,” he said.
Trump is still under a gag order in the case.
Trump said that New York prosecutors brought the hush money case against him in order to attack his presidential campaign.
“This has been a political witch hunt,” he said. “It was done to damage my reputation so I would lose the election.”
Addressing the court, Trump said the case has been a “setback for New York.”
“This has been a very terrible experience,” Trump said through the screen in the courtroom.
He went on to say that the case is a setback for the New York court system, and was “inappropriately handled” by DA Bragg.
Trump called Bragg a “criminal” who was acting as a political opponent.
“They weren’t put down by me, they were put down by accountants,” Trump said.
–More details soon.
NBC News
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