On January 10, in the United States, President-elect Donald Trump was officially sentenced in a criminal case involving 34 charges of business fraud. This is an unprecedented event as he is only 10 days away from being sworn in as President of the United States for the second time.

Judge Juan Merchan ruled that Donald Trump received an “unconditional discharge.” This means he will not face jail time, fines, or probation, but the conviction will remain on his official record.

This image shows President-elect Donald Trump sitting next to attorney Todd Blanche on a live screen during a sentencing hearing at Manhattan Criminal Court on Jan. 10, 2025, in New York. (Photo: AP)

Donald Trump, who attended the trial online from his home in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, continued to deny all charges, claiming his innocence and calling the case ” unfair .”

Prosecutors said the ruling was intended to respect the role of the incoming president and ensure a smooth transition of power.

Protesters wave Trump flags outside Manhattan criminal court after sentencing in a hush money case in New York, January 10, 2025 (Photo: AP)

The verdict marks the first time in history that a US president has taken office with a criminal record. Donald Trump’s legal team plans to appeal the ruling, his lawyer said.