His sentencing hearing, in which Manhattan-based Juan Merchan gave him an unconditional discharge, comes less than two weeks before his inauguration on January 20. In May 2024, a New York jury found Trump,

President-elect Donald Trump was sentenced Friday in his historic hush money case to an unconditional discharge -- allowing Trump to avoid prison, fines or probation, but cementing his status as a convicted felon just 10 days before he takes the oath of office for his second term.

President-elect Donald Trump will be sentenced today at 9:30 a.m. ET in the New York hush-money case, becoming the first U.S. president to face criminal sentencing while preparing to take office. Trump is expected to receive an unconditional discharge, meaning the conviction will stand without additional penalties such as jail time.

Trump — slumped over a table and visible in the courtroom on overhead screens — then delivered a brief, 7-minute statement of protest against the "witch hunt" against him. The judge, New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, handed down a sentence of no punishment as expected.