Donald Trump Spared Punishment After Conviction in Stormy Daniels Case

The president-elect was found guilty of falsifying records but received no sentence, marking a symbolic yet historic moment in U.S. legal and political history.

Donald Trump was convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during his 2016 campaign.
The payment was intended to silence Daniels about an alleged affair, which Trump has consistently denied.
Judge Juan Merchan granted Trump a full discharge from any penalty, citing 'unique and exceptional circumstances.'
Trump's legal team exhausted numerous appeals, including to the Supreme Court, which narrowly rejected his final attempt to halt sentencing.
The conviction, though symbolic, makes Trump the first U.S. president to enter office with a criminal record, as he prepares for his second term.