A judge has sentenced US President-elect Donald Trump to “unconditional release”, ending the first criminal trial of a former US president.

The verdict in the hush-money case means the incoming president will not face any penalties, including jail time or fines, but he will still take office as the first U.S. president to be convicted of a crime.

“This court has never been faced with such a unique and extraordinary situation,” Judge Juan Merchan said shortly before handing down the verdict, calling it a “truly extraordinary case.”

Trump appeared in court from Florida via video call, surrounded by his lawyers and two prominent American flags, where he declared he was “completely innocent.”

It was the first time in the year-and-a-half legal saga that Trump had said “not guilty” or given a brief affirmative answer.

Trump was given a chance to speak before the sentencing, denouncing the case for several minutes.

“It was a very scary experience,” he said.

He claimed the justice system had been “weaponized” and claimed the case was brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for political reasons.

“I want to explain that I have been treated very, very unfairly and I thank you very much,” he said, before falling silent.

When Bragg first saw Trump address him directly, he kept a stoic expression. Trump did laugh, however, when he claimed that Bragg never wanted to sue.

After Trump issued his opinion, Judge Murchin took some time to reflect on the “paradox” of the trial.

Judge Melchan noted that despite the media and political circus out there, “once the court doors close, this is no more unique than all the other cases going on at the same time.”

But he added that after Trump’s conviction, the case took another turn when the American people elected him to a second presidential term in November.

After careful consideration, he determined that “the only lawful sentence without infringing upon the supreme power of the nation” was unconditional release – a sentence that would give the American people a president independent of pending court proceedings.

In May 2024, Trump was convicted by a New York jury of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. His sentencing has been delayed several times due to Supreme Court rulings and the November presidential election.

The charges stem from a conspiracy to cover up hush-money payments to an adult film star late in the 2016 election. Prosecutors argued the payments were a form of election interference designed to withhold important information from voters and therefore violated the law.

In October 2016, Trump’s then-lawyer Michael Cohen paid a woman named Stormy Daniels $130,000 (£106,000) to file a lawsuit against her. Silence over allegations of sexual contact with the incoming president years ago.

After being elected, Trump repaid Cohen in installments and then incorrectly recorded them as legal expenses. Each of Trump’s guilty verdicts was tied to a false document related to a cover-up.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges and denied having a sexual relationship with Ms. Daniels. He has repeatedly claimed the case was a politically motivated persecution.

The six-week trial sparked a legal, political and media uproar. Legends like Cohen and Daniels appeared in court to be questioned by Trump’s lawyers.

Trump appears in court each day with an array of family members and Republican allies filling the seats behind his defense table. Every day, he turns a small media pen in the hallway outside the courtroom into his personal pulpit, using the opportunity to denounce the justice system, the media and other opponents.

Trump also used the outrage of the trial to raise millions of dollars from supporters for his legal battle and campaign to take back the White House.

During Trump’s four years in office, he was indicted in four separate criminal cases, including one in New York. In the end, it was the only one who stood trial.

On the campaign trail and on social media, Trump has used the legal woes to portray himself and his supporters as victims of a rigged justice system.

Despite multiple indictments, including two against him for trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election, Trump decisively defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in November.

His victory dropped two federal indictments against him, including a federal election interference case and one for alleged mishandling of classified documents. The third case, an election interference case in Fulton County, Georgia, has been mired in a series of delays and hiccups for months.

Only Trump’s hush-money trial was concluded after Judge Melchan insisted in early January that Trump appear virtually or in person for sentencing.

However, the fighting did not stop there. Trump’s lawyers have frantically filed appeals and even asked the U.S. Supreme Court to suspend Friday’s hearing.

The Supreme Court rejected his request in a brief order issued Thursday evening.

They also fought to have the case dismissed by arguing that the president-elect enjoys immunity from criminal prosecution, an argument Judge Merchant rejected, but they continued to argue to higher courts.

Trump’s trial in New York adjourned with the final click of the gavel on Friday, closing a particularly fraught chapter in his personal and political history.

Ten days later he would be sworn in as the first U.S. president to be convicted of a felony.

As he concluded his sentencing on Friday, Judge Murchin had a final message for Trump.

“I wish you all the best in your second term in office,” he said.