Donald Trump, First U.S. President-Elect Convicted of a Criminal Offense, Granted Sentence Waiver in Stormy Daniels Case

Donald Trump, the president-elect of the United States, was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels. The payment was intended to conceal an alleged affair and prevent a scandal from erupting during his 2016 presidential campaign against Hillary Clinton. However, the Manhattan Criminal Court, while upholding his conviction, granted him a sentence waiver on Friday, January 10, just ten days before his inauguration as the 47th president of the United States.

An Unprecedented Decision for a President-Elect

Judge Juan Merchan described the case as “extraordinary” and emphasized its “unique and remarkable” nature. He explained that the sentence waiver was intended to “preserve the defendant’s ability to govern,” despite the unprecedented criminal conviction now recorded in Donald Trump’s criminal history.

During the virtual hearing, Donald Trump repeatedly declared his innocence, decrying the decision as a “political witch hunt” and a “step backward for the justice system.” Deputy Attorney General Joshua Steinglass noted that Trump had shown “no remorse” and had “significantly undermined public confidence in the justice system.”

A Symbolic Yet Historic Conviction

Although largely symbolic, the conviction represents a historic moment: no U.S. president-elect has ever faced a criminal conviction before taking office.

The case dates back to 2016, when Donald Trump allegedly attempted to suppress a damaging scandal during his campaign. Since then, the real estate mogul has filed numerous appeals, culminating in the Supreme Court rejecting his final attempt to avoid sentencing. Despite the waiver, his legal team announced plans to appeal the verdict.

Trump’s inauguration, scheduled for January 20, will officially mark the start of his term, one already overshadowed by an unprecedented legal controversy.