Donald Trump was sentenced after his request to delay proceedings in his hush money case was denied by the New York Court of Appeals. He was found guilty in May 2024 on 34 felony counts for falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels, aimed at influencing the 2016 election. Trump denied the claims. Despite facing up to four years in prison, Judge Juan Merchan imposed an unconditional discharge, a non-custodial sentence typically reserved for less severe offenses. Trump’s legal team had argued that moving forward with the sentencing would harm his presidential transition, but prosecutors countered that a president-elect is not immune to criminal processes. Trump is set to take office on January 20, 2025.