Trump largely unscathed by legal battles, except for earning the title 'felon'
The situation for the president-elect remains largely unchanged despite his status as a convicted felon. The real impact will come from the implications of the title itself.
TroibNews 
Donald Trump’s sentencing on Friday marked a significant moment in his ongoing legal struggles, leaving a lasting impact on his legacy as he prepares to make history as the first president in the United States to be sentenced as a convicted felon.
At a hearing in Manhattan, Justice Juan Merchan sentenced the president-elect to an unconditional discharge, allowing Trump to avoid prison time or fines after a jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts of business fraud related to his New York hush money case. This ruling not only carries importance within the courtroom but also formalizes his status as a convicted felon — a situation Trump continues to challenge through appeals.
“Donald Trump will be a felon,” said Jeremy Saland, a criminal defense attorney and former Manhattan prosecutor. “No asterisk anymore.”
Meanwhile, the sentencing effectively concludes Trump's prolonged legal issues that have accumulated since he left the White House in 2020, escalating rapidly after his electoral victory last year.
In addition to the New York hush money case, in which he was found guilty of falsifying business records linked to a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 campaign, Trump faces charges in three other criminal cases. One federal case led by special counsel Jack Smith accuses him of conspiring to steal the 2020 election following the violent attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Another federal case involves allegations of hoarding classified documents after his presidency, while a state case in Georgia claims he plotted to overturn the election results there.
Both federal cases have been dismissed, although Trump is still contesting the Justice Department's release of Smith’s final report. The Georgia case is also on hold, likely for the foreseeable future, as Trump prepares to assume the presidency again.
Generally, a felony conviction can impact an individual's rights to vote, travel, or own firearms; however, these restrictions will not apply to Trump in the same way, as highlighted by Sarah Krissoff, a former U.S. attorney in New York now practicing in criminal defense.
Instead, the real burden for the president-elect will lie in the conviction itself.
“Never before has this court been presented with such a unique and remarkable set of circumstances,” Merchan remarked during Trump's sentencing, noting that his ruling would be the “only lawful sentence that permits entry of judgment of conviction without encroachment on the highest office of the land.”
This reality may not significantly affect Trump in the political landscape. Throughout his campaign, he characterized each legal challenge as a part of “lawfare” waged by political adversaries, transforming that narrative into a substantial fundraising advantage and garnering 312 Electoral College votes.
“This case enraged and galvanized Republicans in a way that I don't think Democrats, even to this day, can fully understand,” said Scott Jennings, a GOP strategist. “And it backfired on them tremendously, and every time they used the talking point that they created with this case in the campaign, I think it hurt them even more.”
Following the hearing, which he attended via video from Mar-a-Lago, Trump perceived the sentence as a victory against a “pathetic, unAmerican Witch Hunt” led by Democrats, asserting on social media that it demonstrated “THERE IS NO CASE, THERE WAS NEVER A CASE, and this whole Scam fully deserves to be DISMISSED.”
“The real Jury, the American People, have spoken, by Re-Electing me with an overwhelming MANDATE in one of the most consequential Elections in History,” he added.
Looking ahead, in four years, Trump's felony conviction may carry minimal political ramifications, especially as his legal issues do not seem to hinder the Democratic Party's prospects in 2024 or present significant liabilities for the GOP.
Unable to seek a third term, Trump will depart the Oval Office in January 2029 at the age of 82, still capable of voting for his successor in Florida. While he may face restrictions on firearm ownership, his lifelong Secret Service detail mitigates that concern.
Ultimately, Trump has again made history. In just ten days, he will be inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States and the first to have a felony conviction.
“Sir, I wish you godspeed as you assume a second term in office,” Merchan stated at the conclusion of the sentencing.
This report was contributed to by Erica Orden and Ben Johansen.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
At a hearing in Manhattan, Justice Juan Merchan sentenced the president-elect to an unconditional discharge, allowing Trump to avoid prison time or fines after a jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts of business fraud related to his New York hush money case. This ruling not only carries importance within the courtroom but also formalizes his status as a convicted felon — a situation Trump continues to challenge through appeals.
“Donald Trump will be a felon,” said Jeremy Saland, a criminal defense attorney and former Manhattan prosecutor. “No asterisk anymore.”
Meanwhile, the sentencing effectively concludes Trump's prolonged legal issues that have accumulated since he left the White House in 2020, escalating rapidly after his electoral victory last year.
In addition to the New York hush money case, in which he was found guilty of falsifying business records linked to a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 campaign, Trump faces charges in three other criminal cases. One federal case led by special counsel Jack Smith accuses him of conspiring to steal the 2020 election following the violent attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Another federal case involves allegations of hoarding classified documents after his presidency, while a state case in Georgia claims he plotted to overturn the election results there.
Both federal cases have been dismissed, although Trump is still contesting the Justice Department's release of Smith’s final report. The Georgia case is also on hold, likely for the foreseeable future, as Trump prepares to assume the presidency again.
Generally, a felony conviction can impact an individual's rights to vote, travel, or own firearms; however, these restrictions will not apply to Trump in the same way, as highlighted by Sarah Krissoff, a former U.S. attorney in New York now practicing in criminal defense.
Instead, the real burden for the president-elect will lie in the conviction itself.
“Never before has this court been presented with such a unique and remarkable set of circumstances,” Merchan remarked during Trump's sentencing, noting that his ruling would be the “only lawful sentence that permits entry of judgment of conviction without encroachment on the highest office of the land.”
This reality may not significantly affect Trump in the political landscape. Throughout his campaign, he characterized each legal challenge as a part of “lawfare” waged by political adversaries, transforming that narrative into a substantial fundraising advantage and garnering 312 Electoral College votes.
“This case enraged and galvanized Republicans in a way that I don't think Democrats, even to this day, can fully understand,” said Scott Jennings, a GOP strategist. “And it backfired on them tremendously, and every time they used the talking point that they created with this case in the campaign, I think it hurt them even more.”
Following the hearing, which he attended via video from Mar-a-Lago, Trump perceived the sentence as a victory against a “pathetic, unAmerican Witch Hunt” led by Democrats, asserting on social media that it demonstrated “THERE IS NO CASE, THERE WAS NEVER A CASE, and this whole Scam fully deserves to be DISMISSED.”
“The real Jury, the American People, have spoken, by Re-Electing me with an overwhelming MANDATE in one of the most consequential Elections in History,” he added.
Looking ahead, in four years, Trump's felony conviction may carry minimal political ramifications, especially as his legal issues do not seem to hinder the Democratic Party's prospects in 2024 or present significant liabilities for the GOP.
Unable to seek a third term, Trump will depart the Oval Office in January 2029 at the age of 82, still capable of voting for his successor in Florida. While he may face restrictions on firearm ownership, his lifelong Secret Service detail mitigates that concern.
Ultimately, Trump has again made history. In just ten days, he will be inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States and the first to have a felony conviction.
“Sir, I wish you godspeed as you assume a second term in office,” Merchan stated at the conclusion of the sentencing.
This report was contributed to by Erica Orden and Ben Johansen.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
