The future president of the United States, Donald Trump, will not face jail time or a fine in the trial about the accounting of hush-hush money to the former porn actress Stormy Daniels.
This is written by the news agency Reuters and the American media CNN.
Trump has thus been sentenced to an “unconditional discharge” by a court in New York – in Danish: an unconditional release.
Trump escapes with a stain on his criminal record and does not have to go to prison or pay a fine in the now protracted trial.
Juan Merchan, who is the judge in the case, had previously indicated that he would not sentence Trump to either a prison sentence or a fine.
At the verdict, Merchan pointed out that this was an unusual case, referring to the fact that the defendant is the future president of the United States.
“Never before has this court been presented with such unique and remarkable circumstances,” said the judge.
Juan Merchan added that the only legitimate punishment he could impose on Trump without simultaneously interfering with the “highest office of the land” – the presidency – was an unconditional release.
He referred to Trump being inaugurated as president in ten days.
Trump was found guilty in May last year of improperly posting a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels as a campaign expense.
The money was paid during the 2016 presidential campaign, allegedly to get her to keep quiet about an alleged affair between her and Trump back in 2006.
Trump has pleaded not guilty throughout the case.
He reiterated his innocence shortly before sentencing. Here he called the case “a political witch hunt”.
– It has been a political witch hunt. It has been conducted to destroy my reputation, said the future US president, according to CNN.
– The fact is that I am totally innocent. I haven’t done anything wrong.
Trump, dressed in a dark suit, white shirt and red striped tie, attended via video link from his home state of Florida.
Here he sat with his lawyer Todd Blanche.
Another of his lawyers, Emil Bove, was present in the courtroom in New York.
/ritzau/
Source: www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk
