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The audio tape of President-elect Trump The New York City sentencing hearing was made public on Friday, providing a glimpse into the unprecedented conviction against a former president where Trump was ultimately sentenced to an unconditional discharge.
“This has been a very terrible experience,” said Trump, who virtually attended the sentencing hearing in the criminal trial. New York City courtroom Friday morning. “I think it’s been a huge setback for New York and the New York court system.”
“This is a case that Alvin Bragg didn’t want to bring. He thought, from what I read and heard, that he was handled improperly before he got there. And a gentleman from a law firm went came in and acted as district attorney,” the president-elect continued. “And that gentleman, from what I heard, was a criminal or almost a criminal in what he did. It was very inappropriate. He was someone involved with my political opponent.”
“I think it’s a shame for New York and New York has a lot of problems, but this is a big shame,” he added.
At one point, Trump, appearing virtually, leaned forward, looking at Judge Juan Merchan, and referenced the November election, suggesting it represented a repudiation of this case.
“It’s been a political witch hunt,” Trump explained. “It was done to damage my reputation and lose the election. And obviously, that didn’t work. And the people of our country got to see it firsthand because they saw the case in your courtroom. They were able to see it first hand. And then they voted and I won.”
Assistant District Attorney Josh Steinglass testified that there was “overwhelming evidence to support the jury’s verdict” and was critical of Trump, claiming the president-elect “has caused lasting damage to the public’s perception of the criminal justice system and put officers of the court at risk.” with the comments he made publicly during the trial.
“I very, very strongly disagree with much of what the government has just said about this case, about the legitimacy of what happened in this courtroom during the trial, and about President Trump’s conduct in fighting this case since before it was accused, while he was accused, until the jury’s verdict, and even until today,” Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche said in response to the prosecution.
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Former President Trump will appear before Judge Juan Merchan after his surrender to New York authorities in New York County Criminal Court in April 2024. (Photo by Seth Wenig-Pool via USA TODAY)
During the hearing, merchant he defended the actions he took along the way.
“Sentencing is one of the most difficult decisions any criminal judge is called upon to make,” Merchan said, noting that the court “must consider the facts of the case along with any aggravating or mitigating circumstances.”
Merchan reflected on the case, saying that “never before has this court been presented with such a unique set of circumstances.” The judge said it was an “extraordinary case” with media interest and increased security, but said that once the courtroom doors were closed, the trial itself was “no more unique or extraordinary” than any other case
Merchan acknowledged that Trump has important legal protections, but argued that “one power they don’t provide is the power to overturn a jury verdict.”
“Sir, I wish you the best of luck as you take on your second term,” Merchan said at the end of the hearing.
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In this courtroom sketch, Judge Juan Merchan instructs a jury in Manhattan state court in New York City on May 29, 2024, before deliberations during former President Trump’s criminal trial on charges he falsifying business records to hide money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels. in 2016. (Reuters/Jane Rosenberg)
Merchan’s conditional discharge sentence means no punishment is imposed: no jail time, fines or probation. The ruling also preserves Trump’s ability to appeal the conviction.
“After careful analysis, this court has determined that the only statutory sentence permitting entry of the judgment of conviction is unconditional estoppel,” Merchan said Friday. “At this point, he imposes this sentence to cover all 34 charges.”
Trump’s team told the court that he will appeal the conviction and that he will be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on January 20.
Fox News Digital’s Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
