On Friday, New York Judge Juan Merchan sentenced President-elect Donald Trump, making him the first felon to become President.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Merchan sentenced Trump to an unconditional discharge, which eschews any prison time or probation but cements his status as a convicted felon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cAfter careful analysis and obedience of government mandates, pursuant of law, the court feels the only sentence is an unconditional discharge, which is a lawful and permissible sentence for falsifying business records,\u201d Merchan said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI impose that sentence for all 34 counts, and sir, I wish you godspeed as you pursue your second term in office,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Trump, in remarks virtually to the judge inside the courtroom, said that his experience throughout his criminal case in Manhattan has been \u201cvery terrible,\u201d calling it a \u201ctremendous setback for New York and the New York court system.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cHe said I was falsifying business records; I was calling a legal expense a legal expense,\u201d Trump said, reiterating a defense argument from trial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an injustice of justice,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n