Trump Sentenced to 'Unconditional Discharge' Following Hush Money Conviction

On Friday Morning, incoming President Trump was sentenced to unconditional discharge for his hush money conviction.

What is Unconditional Discharge?: Unconditional Discharge spares Trump jail time, fines, or probation. It essentially means “the case is over, the conviction stands, and no further conditions attach,” Barbara McQuade, a former U.S. attorney and law professor at the University of Michigan said. 

Key Quotes: “Ordinary citizens do not receive those legal protections,” Judge Merchan said. “It is the office of the president that bestows those to the office holder. It is the citizenry of this nation that recently decided that you should once again receive the benefits of those protections.”

For Context: Trump was convicted last year on 34 charges of business fraud related to hush money he paid to Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign. He asked the Supreme Court to pause sentencing in the case, but on Thursday, the court rejected his request. Trump and his attorney appeared virtually from Mar-a-Lago for the sentencing hearing. 

How the Media Covered It: Several outlets on the right focused on Trump's response to the ruling.

• OAN (Right Bias): “Trump: Unconditional Discharge Proves ‘THERE IS NO CASE’”
• The Daily Wire (Right bias): “Dems ‘Lost’ Another ‘Witch Hunt’: Trump Responds To Hush Money Sentencing”
• The Daily Caller (Right bias): "‘Totally Innocent’: Trump Unleashes On Judge Merchan During Sentencing Hearing”
• Washington Times (Lean Right bias): “Trump Defiant as Judge Delivers No-Jail Felony Sentence...”

Outlets on the left were more likely to focus on the verdict.

• The Guardian (Left bias): "Trump becomes first president to be a sentenced felon but avoids jail time or fines in hush-money trial"
• Bloomberg (Lean Left bias): "Trump Gets No Punishment After Conviction in Hush Money Case"
• USA Today (Lean Left bias): "Trump becomes first ex-president sentenced for criminal conviction"