Investing.com -- President-elect Donald J. Trump was sentenced on Friday, becoming the first American president to receive a criminal sentence.
Though he avoided jail time, the event carries symbolic weight, marking him as the first U.S. president to enter office with a felony conviction.
According to reports, Judge Juan M. Merchan, presiding over the case, is said to have highlighted the unprecedented nature of the situation.
“This has been truly an extraordinary case,” he noted before imposing an unconditional discharge, a sentence that bypasses jail or probation.
Appearing virtually from his Mar-a-Lago estate, Mr. Trump maintained his innocence. “This has been a very terrible experience,” he is said to have stated, asserting that the voters would ultimately judge the situation.
The hearing featured a summary of the prosecution’s case by lead prosecutor Joshua Steinglass, against Mr. Trump.
He is quoted as having criticized the president-elect for showing no remorse and accused him of undermining public trust in the justice system.
Mr. Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, contested the legitimacy of the case, framing it as election interference. He called the sentencing a “sad day” for both Mr. Trump’s family and the nation.
Following the sentencing, Mr. Trump can now appeal his conviction but cannot issue a presidential pardon for state charges.