NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump spoke for six minutes. The judge spoke for seven. Ultimately, the first criminal conviction of a former or future president lasted no more than half an hour.
Trump, who appeared via video from his home in Palm Beach, Florida, received no punishment Friday for his conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying company records. The charges related to payments Trump’s company made to a lawyer, Michael Cohen, to reimburse him for paying porn actor Stormy Daniels during Trump’s 2016 Republican presidential campaign.
A Manhattan prosecutor and one of Trump’s lawyers also spoke before Judge Juan M. Merchan handed down the sentence, known as an unconditional discharge.
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Here are some key excerpts from the procedure:
President-elect Donald Trump
“This has been a very terrible experience. I think it’s been a huge setback for New York and the justice system in New York. … I think it’s an embarrassment to New York, and New York has a lot of problems, but this is a great shame.”
___
“The falsification of corporate documents was, as they said, a legal expense – on the books where everyone could see it – a legal expense. In other words, attorneys’ fees or legal costs were classified as “legal expenses” by accountants. They weren’t put up by me. They were put aside by accountants. I didn’t call them construction, concrete work. I didn’t call them electrical work. I didn’t call them anything. They called legal fees or legal fees, legal fees. And for this I was charged. It’s actually incredible.”
___
“I’m being sued for business data. Everyone should be this precise. It has been a political witch hunt. It was done to damage my reputation so that I would lose the election. And apparently that didn’t work. And the people of our country have seen this firsthand because they watched the case in your courtroom. And then they voted, and I won.”
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“People in this country understand what is going on. This has been a weaponization of the government. They call that legal matters. This has never happened in this way to any extent, nor has it ever happened before in our country. And I like to explain that I was treated very, very unfairly. And I thank you very much.”
Judge Juan M. Merchan
“Never before has this court been confronted with such a unique and remarkable set of circumstances. One can honestly conclude that this was a truly extraordinary case. …And yet the trial was a bit of a paradox, because once the courtroom doors were closed, the trial itself was no more special, unique, or extraordinary than the other 32 criminal cases taking place in this courthouse at the exact same time. .”
___
“The protection afforded to the office of president is not a mitigating factor. They in no way diminish the seriousness of the crime or justify its commission… one power they do not provide is the power to overturn a jury verdict. Legal precedent clearly shows that Donald Trump, the ordinary citizen, and Donald Trump, the criminal defendant, would not be entitled to such significant protections.”
___
“This court has determined that the only legal penalty that allows for the passing of a judgment of conviction without infringing on the highest office in the land is an unconditional dismissal. … Therefore, I am imposing that sentence at this time to cover all 34 charges. Sir, I wish you the best of luck in your second term. Thank you.”
Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass
“The ruling in this case was unanimous and decisive. And that must be respected.”
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“Rather than preserving, protecting, and defending our constitutionally established system of criminal justice, the defendant – the former and future President of the United States – has waged a coordinated campaign to undermine its legitimacy. Rather than express any remorse for his criminal conduct, the suspect has deliberately fomented contempt for our judicial institutions and the rule of law. … Simply put, this defendant has done lasting damage to the public’s perception of the criminal justice system and endangered court officials.”
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“But in this case, we must respect the office of the president and be aware of the fact that the defendant will be inaugurated as president in ten days. … As a practical matter, the most sensible punishment prior to his inauguration is an unconditional dismissal.”
Attorney Todd Blanche
“American voters were given the opportunity to see and decide for themselves whether this is the type of case that should have been brought. And they decided. And that is why, in ten days, President Trump will assume the office of President of the United States.”
___
“It’s a very sad day. It’s a sad day for President Trump and his family and friends. But according to the counselor it is also a sad day for this country. … I know President Trump shares this view that this will never happen again in this country.”
___
“We plan to appeal this verdict and what happened during this investigation. And we certainly believe that the only appropriate penalty, if any should be imposed at all – which we very much believe should not be the case, and that the case should be dismissed – is a penalty of unconditional dismissal.”
