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NY Daily News: 5 key things to know as Trump is sentenced today in NYC for his hush money conviction
Originally published at https://www.nydailynews.com on January 10, 2025.
Ten days before he returns to the White House, Donald Trump is scheduled to be sentenced in New York Friday. The proceeding is slated to bring closure to the case that centered on a hush-money scheme involving payouts to a porn star, a Playboy model and a Trump Tower doorman hatched more than a decade ago and its coverup — one that was years in the making and saw Trump become the first U.S. president to be found guilty of breaking the law.
Here’s what to know ahead of the historic hearing.
1. What’s an unconditional discharge?
The sentence Merchan has said he’s “inclined “ to impose means what it sounds like — instead of being thrown behind bars, Trump will be discharged without any conditions.
More typically heard of for Manhattan defendants who receive lenient terms is a “conditional’ discharge, which could see a judge agree to release someone if they agree not to get rearrested for a certain period, attend anger management sessions, go to counseling, do community service, or participate in other forms of rehabilitation.