President-elect Donald Trump received the first ever criminal sentencing for a former or incoming U.S. president on Friday, an "unconditional discharge” that means Trump will get no prison time or probation as he prepares to enter the White House for a second time on Jan. 20.
"This has been a very terrible experience" and a "setback" for the New York court system, Trump told the judge overseeing his case minutes before his sentence was handed down.
Trump was convicted May 30 on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. The incoming president, who did not physically attend the sentencing, appeared via a remote video feed from South Florida.
After a 30-minute hearing, Judge Juan Merchan released Trump without any ongoing conditions, wishing him "Godspeed" in his second presidential term.