Trump Sentenced in New York Hush Money Case

President-elect Donald Trump received an unconditional discharge in his New York hush money case, where he was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records related to payments made to Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election. Despite the guilty verdict, no punishment was imposed, and Trump described the trial as a 'political witch hunt,' asserting he committed no crime and vowing to appeal the conviction. Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, defended Trump, labeling the prosecution as a politically motivated attempt to undermine his return to the presidency. Critics within the GOP argued that the case reflects a misuse of legal resources and a threat to the integrity of the judicial system, while Democrats largely refrained from public commentary on the matter. Trump's case marks a historic moment as he becomes the first former president to face criminal conviction, although he is free to assume office despite the charges. Legal experts suggest the conviction could potentially be overturned on appeal, citing a lack of underlying crime.