NEW YORK CITY—New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan on Jan. 10 gave President-elect Donald Trump an unconditional discharge in his sentencing in the business records case.
It’s a largely symbolic sentence that means that Trump does not face any penalties beyond having a conviction entered in his legal record. Merchan declined to impose any term of imprisonment or fines. Instead, he chastised Trump for his conduct.
“It is the legal protections afforded to the office of the president of the United States that are extraordinary, not the occupant,” Merchan said as Trump listened during a virtual appearance.
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass described Trump’s conduct throughout the case as a “direct attack on the rule of law itself.” He chastised Trump, suggesting the president-elect has made threats of retaliation against those who wronged him in legal matters….