Trump Finally Gets Sentencing Date In New York Hush Money Case, But Dodges Harshest Penalty

President-elect Donald Trump is set to be sentenced in the so-called hush money case on January 10, just days before he is sworn in as the next U.S. head of state.

Judge Juan Merchan hinted Trump won't face any jail time, but the development will make him the first president to take office convicted of a felony crime.

Merchan released a written decision saying he will sentence Trump to a conditional discharge, where a case gets dismissed if a defendant avoids rearrest, as explained by The Associated Press.

The judge also rejected Trump's attempt to get the verdict dismissed and the case thrown out on presidential immunity grounds as a result of his return to the White House, saying he found "no legal impediment to sentencing." Trump had also argued that a sentence would disrupt the transition process. However, the team of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg sought to avoid this, proposing a series of solutions that included Trump not getting a custodial sentence or delaying it until after he left office in 2029.

In May, a Manhattan jury found Trump guilty on all 34 counts brought against him in connection with payments made to former porn star Stormy Daniels, marking the first time a former U.S. president had been convicted of a crime.

The hush money was recorded as Trump's business legal expenses, but was actually part of his campaign, prosecutors said when arguing the then-presidential candidate was guilty. Trump has always denied any wrongdoing, saying the story is false and he has done nothing wrong. He has added that lawyer Michael Cohen was legitimately paid for his services and the story was hidden to avoid embarrassment, not influence the electorate.