Judge Juan Merchan officiated at Trump’s formal sentencing this morning. He sentenced Trump on 34 counts, giving him an “unconditional discharge,” meaning no jail time. The charges stemmed from Trump’s payments to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election to keep her quiet about their sexual encounter. The payments were disguised as legal fees. Trump fought in every possible legal avenue to avoid this confirmation of his status.
He was turned down by appellate courts, even, last night, by the U.S. Supreme Court.
During the hearing, he again denounced the judgment, the judge, and the proceedings.
He insisted that he was “totally innocent.”
The New York Times reported that Trump was using the sentencing as a fundraiser (of course):
Trump mounted a significant legal effort to stop today’s court proceeding. He failed but that has not stopped him from fund-raising off of it. “It’s truly unbelievable that they’re bringing this case today — all designed to bring chaos and disrupt the peaceful transfer of power during this crucial time,” he said in an email blast this morning soliciting donations from supporters.
The ironic claim that the sentencing disrupted “the peaceful transfer of power,” implicitly raising the comparison to 2021, when he summoned his mob to invade the U.S. Capitol to disrupt “the peaceful transfer of power.” The sentencing was in no way chaotic or disruptive, unlike January 6, 2021.
He is expected to appeal the judgment.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
He essentially got away with it…no jail time, no fine. But he will appeal anyway – because – it shows he is a loser. He may have his liquor licenses pulled from his various hotels/golf courses/restaurants and there are some countries that will not allow him to walk on their land.
Poor convicted felon. And he will have to hire new lawyers because the guys who represented him have been nominated to higher places (unless he gets mad at them and pulls the nomination because they lost the case).
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Amazing–one of the talking heads yesterday said that we all have to think in the way a football coach tells their receivers to think when they are about to catch a football and KNOW they are going to get “hit” by huge linebackers:
“You are going to get hit whether you catch the ball or not–so catch it, regardless of what you know will happen.”
Good advice for anyone standing up to Trump and his goons, like Judge Merchan. We all know the playbook now–so do what’s right and take the hit–and keep your sense of integrity as you do. CBK
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Great advice.
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Diane: I thought so too. Couldn’t wait to tell it here. There is a perverse fascination going on about the whole thing. CBK
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CBK,
I am totally unafraid because I am old and have no ambition. I’ll say and do what I think is right. Not recklessly but with forethought.
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What concerns Trump apparently is that the conviction may impede his ability to get a liquor license at his golf clubs, but I am sure his team of slick lawyers will design some type of solution to the problem.
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As a convicted felon, he won’t be able to join the military (as if!) or vote in many states. Probably could not get a government job or a TSA Pass or lots of other things.
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Retired: “Apparently . . . .” It’s also a big bruise to Trump’s massively inflated ego, and so his “I am King” understanding of himself. I hope Judge Merchan has a security detail. CBK
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Every reference by the Democratic Party to Donald Trump should read Convicted Felon Donald Trump. It’s time they took the gloves off.
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Every reference by the Democratic Party to Donald Trump should read Convicted Felon Donald Trump. It’s time they took the gloves off.
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T***’s complaining about the arm of the law interfering with the peaceful transition of power is a worthy rival for the paradigmatic definition of chutzpah as killing your parents, then asking the court for mercy because you’re an orphan.
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Bill: Yes . . . good example, or like the GOP and oligarchs spending decades redefining, destroying, and maligning public education and then complaining to everyone about how awful it is. CBK
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#TodaysAcronym ☞ #OAFF
🧌
#OnceAndFutureFelon
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You know he is going to pardon himself.
Who’s going to stop hm? This Supreme Court?
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The president can’t pardon state convictions or civil convictions.
Trump is forever Felon47.
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I understand how pardons work.
He’s the one who doesn’t. He’ll do it and his minions will parrot it from now to Doomsday.
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It’s best to view Trump in terms of the Zero Sum game where there is no difference between weakening America and strengthening Russia. After over 60 failed junk lawsuits, Russia RepubliQans refused to endorse Biden’s victory for four years, instead mounting a withering baseless attack on the election process itself. This is precisely what happens in Russia. Putin reverse engineers unacceptable election results under the false pretense of “fraud”. This destabilization process is done BY the government to show the public that elections are corrupt and illegitimate. And now in Russia it’s just shambolic elections for show. Basically it’s “go f*** yourself, we’re cheating and what are you gonna do about it?” Elections now serve to instruct the public that they are powerless. Similarly the Traitor’s attacks on our closest allies and embrace of fascist dictators weakens our alliances, or put otherwise, strengthens Russia. I challenge you: think of ANY RepubliQan “policy” and unpack it. You will invariably end up at with a weakening of America or strengthening of Russia. Example: Ukraine – suddenly doveish RepubliQans demanding an end to funding helps Putin secure the second largest country in Europe.
Or Canada, Greenland, Denmark etc… openly talking about invading sovereign allied nations to expand empires makes Putin’s land grab seem tame in comparison. Humiliating our allies while normalizing Russian aggression: a double whammy!
All of the chaos he sows weakens our institutions, saps our resources, divides us from fellow Americans, and all of it makes Russia stronger. Destroying the FBI and CIA – longtime goals of Putin – is just the icing on the cake. Trump is a Kremlin-owned traitor whose Kompromat is apparently incendiary enough to have him roll over like a good little dog for Hitler 2.0. And his boss is most expert in replacing democracies with mob-rule plutocracy. No more checks and balances, Citizens United, SCOTUS crowning King Don, FOX lies, cowardly Moscow Mitch and Genteel Garland, now Musk and the tech bro billionaires licking the grifter’s boot heels while political cartoonists are silenced. This is how a democracy dies.
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