Trump convicted on 34 charges, avoids jail time in hush money case

A judge ruled on Friday that US President-elect Donald Trump will not go to jail or pay a fine over his criminal conviction stemming from hush money paid to an adult star, but the sentencing will place a judgment of guilt on his record.

Sentencing of Trump, 78, by Justice Juan Merchan’s to unconditional discharge closes a case, which had loomed over his bid to retake the White House just days before his January 20 inauguration.

Merchan by giving an unconditional discharge, would place a judgment of guilt on Trump’s permanent record. The judgement is without any other legal penalty such as custody, a fine or probation.

Donald Trump pleaded not guilty. He has vowed to appeal the guilty verdict. The president-elect appeared with his lawyer on TV screens beamed to the courtroom with two US flags in the background.

He, wearing a red tie with white stripes, said before sentencing: “It’s been a political witch hunt ”

Trump added that it was done to damage his reputation so he would lose the election and obviously that didn’t work.

Trump, who did not testify during the six-week trial last year, said he is totally innocent and he did nothing wrong.