Donald Trump avoids jail in Stormy Daniels hush money trial

New York: So, guess what? Donald Trump just dodged jail time in that hush money case with Stormy Daniels. He got an unconditional discharge, which means he walks free. Pretty wild, right?

The judge, Juan Merchan, said it was the only sentence he could give because Trump is about to take office again. It’s like a legal slap on the wrist, but hey, he’s still the president-elect!

Trump’s been saying this whole thing is a “witch hunt,” and he’s not backing down. He plans to appeal the conviction, claiming there was never a real case against him. Classic Trump, right?

He even joined the court hearing via video from Mar-a-Lago, where all the MAGA magic happens. The judge wrapped things up by wishing him well for his upcoming term. Talk about a dramatic courtroom moment!

After the hearing, Trump took to Truth Social to call the whole thing a “despicable charade.” He’s really leaning into the narrative that this is all politically motivated.

Now, here’s the kicker: Trump is the first president to take office with a felony conviction. He was found guilty of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment to Daniels to keep her quiet about their alleged affair.

Trump insists nothing happened between them, and he claims he just wanted to protect his family. His lawyers argued that the payments were legal expenses, but prosecutors saw it differently.

It’s been a long two years of legal battles, and Trump’s team has tried everything to get this case thrown out. But now, with the unconditional discharge, he’s off the hook for any penalties.

Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer and key witness in the case, wasn’t happy about the outcome. He called it “political theatre” and said it means Trump faces no real consequences.

So, what’s next for Trump? He’s gearing up for his inauguration on January 20, and it looks like he’s ready to hit the ground running, despite the legal drama.