Washington, D.C. (Friday, January 10, 2025) – New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan today pronounced the sentence for President-elect Donald Trump in his so-called hush money case. The sentence was without penalty and effectively says Trump will not serve any jail time, pay a fine, or perform any community service for his conviction of falsifying business records. The sentencing means Trump is free to return to the White House although he remains the first U.S. President in history to be a convicted felon.

Legal experts say those felonies will have some impact. Trump will still be able to vote. He is registered voter in Florida. While the Sunshine State bars people convicted of felonies from voting, Florida restores those rights after the felons have completed their sentence with the exception of convicted murderers and sex offenders. Under federal law, Trump cannot possess any firearms and under New York law, Trump will have to provide a DNA sample for the state’s crime data-bank.

Trump was convicted in May 2024 on 34 counts of falsifying business records.