Unconditional discharge: What Donald Trump's hush money sentencing really means

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

52% : Besides jail time, Merchan's options were fairly open-ended and included sentencing Trump to home confinement, probation, and community service.
46% : Trump still maintains some constitutional rights, such as being able to vote -- which he did by casting a ballot for himself in Florida during the 2024 presidential election.
42% : "This court has determined that the only lawful sentence that permits entry of judgment of conviction without encroachment on the highest office of the land is a sentence of unconditional discharge," Merchan said at Friday's hearing, which Trump attended virtually after the Supreme Court narrowly declined to delay his sentencing on Thursday.
42% : Because the sentencing means he will not serve jail time, Trump is still on track to be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States at noon on Monday, Jan. 20.
34% : The judgment ensures Trump will be spared jail time, fines and probation -- though he will face other restrictions on his constitutional rights that he has said he wants to appeal.
33% : Multiple criminal cases remain outstanding against Trump, but are unlikely to go anywhere as he returns to power.
27% : Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts related to the case last May, but still maintains his innocence and has characterized the case against him as politically motivated.
27% : Instead of jailing Trump, New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan sentenced him to "unconditional discharge," which upholds the president-elect's conviction but essentially ends the criminal case against him.
25% : But by opting for unconditional discharge, Merchan acknowledged that Trump would not be able to perform his duties as president if saddled with such punishments and opted to steer the country away from a potential constitutional crisis.

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