Madeline Halpert
Reporting from court

Experts say Justice Juan Merchan faced a unique and difficult task deciding how to proceed with Trump's sentencing after the American people elected him to return to the White House.

University of Michigan Law School professor Barbara McQuade says Merchan's approach was "a thoughtful balance of three competing values: a president’s ability to fulfil his constitutional duties, the rule of law, and deference to a jury’s verdict".

"The Supreme Court agreed that Donald Trump gets no free pass just because he is president-elect. Although Trump will not serve any prison time, history will record that he is a convicted felon," she says.

Julie Rendelman, a former Brooklyn prosecutor, says today's hearing went as expected.

"Merchan’s comments were unsurprisingly succinct and focused only on the case before him and the jury’s verdict. He avoided playing into the political noise surrounding the case," she says.

As we reported earlier, Donald Trump spoke in court for the first time during this trial.

He is in Florida, but appeared via video link in the New York courtroom.

He spoke for a few minutes, claiming his innocence and protesting the case.

"It's been a political witch hunt", he said, before talking about his election win.

You can listen below:

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

With the Manhattan hush money case concluded and his two federal indictments dismissed because of his upcoming presidency, only one of the four prosecutions of Donald Trump remains.

But it's unlikely to go anywhere anytime soon, and its fate is very uncertain.

Trump and several co-conspirators were charged in Fulton County, Georgia for an alleged criminal conspiracy to overturn the state's 2020 election results.

Trump was indicted in August 2023 and had his mugshot taken in an Atlanta jail, where he pleaded not guilty.

But the case has been mired in legal delays and side plots that have, for now, rendered it defunct. Trump is also protected from state prosecutions while he is president, though he cannot issue a pardon for himself here.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis was removed from the case by a Georgia appeals court in December, after lawyers representing some of Trump's co-defendants brought forth allegations of a romantic relationship with one of the attorneys on her prosecution team.

The case will now be reassigned in a political fraught and uncertain process.

• Read more: Fulton County DA Fani Willis disqualified from Trump case

Image source, Jane Rosenberg / Reuters

Court artist Jane Rosenberg has just shared the above sketch of today's proceedings.

It shows Donald Trump and his lawyer Todd Blanche on a screen, they are in Florida and were addressing the court via a video link.

It also shows Justice Juan Merchan at his bench.

Image source, Getty Images

In a hearing that lasted just over 30 minutes, a president-elect was sentenced in court for the first time ever.

Donald Trump will now serve as the first president with a felony conviction.

Here's what happened in the Manhattan courtroom:

• President-elect, Donald Trump, was sentenced to unconditional discharge on all 34 charges. He won't face jail, fines or probation
• Judge Juan Merchan says it's the "only lawful sentence" given the circumstances of Trump taking office in 10 days time

• Appearing via video link, Trump spoke for the first time in this trial
• He claimed he is innocent, and that it has been a "very terrible experience"
• Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass told the court that Trump caused "enduring damage to public perception of the criminal justice system", but acknowledged the need to wrap up the case
• In a post online after the sentencing, Trump called the trial a "despicable charade" and said he will appeal

President-elect Donald Trump has just written a lengthy post on Truth Social.

"The Radical Democrats have lost another pathetic, unAmerican Witch Hunt," Donald Trump says.

Trump directly addresses his sentence of an unconditional discharge, which means he does not receive any fines or jail time despite being found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records.

The president-elect says this "result alone proves that, as all Legal Scholars and Experts have said, THERE IS NO CASE, THERE WAS NEVER A CASE, and this whole Scam fully deserves to be DISMISSED".

"Today’s event was a despicable charade, and now that it is over, we will appeal this Hoax," Trump adds.

During sentencing only about 40 minutes ago, the judge said he chose the sentence as it was "the most viable solution” in such an unprecedented situation - with Trump mere days away from taking office.

Justice Merchan said an unconditional disharge was the "only lawful sentence, without encroaching upon the highest office in the land".

Trump's case finishes with no fine or jail time, and a 'godspeed' message from the judgepublished at 15:31 Greenwich Mean Time

15:31 GMT

Anthony Zurcher
BBC North America correspondent

Donald Trump’s sentencing made for a jarring juxtaposition.

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass reviewed what he called the “overwhelming evidence” behind Trump’s criminal conviction and detailed how the president-elect had shown “disdain for our institutions and the rule of law” before, during and after the trial.

He said Trump had “caused enduring damage to public perception for the criminal justice system” and put court officers in danger.

And for that, Steinglass concluded, he should receive no formal punishment.

In their response Trump and his lawyer were predictable. Both questioned the motivations and timing behind the president-elect’s prosecution, calling it election interference.

Both pointed to Trump’s victory in November as vindication. And Trump again asserted his innocence, saying he had been treated “very, very unfairly”.

When it came time for Justice Juan Merchan to hand down his sentence, he – perhaps unexpectedly – did not condemn the president-elect’s behaviour. Instead, he dwelled on how the protections and immunities Trump has been afforded came from the office of presidency and not from Trump as a private citizen or a criminal defendant.

But the protections are there. And it means that Trump, convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, was sent on his way Friday morning with a simple “godspeed” from the judge, rather than any jail time or fine.

Madeline Halpert
Reporting from court

Donald Trump was convicted of falsifying business records last May – but his sentencing for the felony conviction was pushed back several times.

Initially, Trump was scheduled to be sentenced in July, but Justice Juan Merchan decided to push the date back after a ruling from the Supreme Court declaring that presidents are immune from prosecution for official acts.

Merchan said he needed time to review the ruling.

Another date was set for September, but Merchan decided to push the sentencing back until after the presidential election, which Trump eventually won.

After even more legal back and forth, Merchan set a date of 10 January, today, for the sentencing - just before Trump is set to take office.

Image source, Reuters

During the trial, Donald Trump sat at this same table flanked by his team of lawyers. In the first row behind him was usually at least one family member and various Republicans - there to support him.

Today, only one lawyer sat at that desk - Emile Bove.

Beside him, a TV screen showing Donald Trump and his lawyer Todd Blanche.

Madeline Halpert
Reporting from court

And with that, the relatively anti-climactic hearing has come to an end.

The video feed has cut out and we can no longer see Trump's face. Reporters are now being asked to leave the court.

But stick with us, we could soon hear more from some of the major players in this case. And we'll bring you further analysis on what this all means.

Madeline Halpert
Reporting from court

Merchan has just given Trump his sentence: unconditional discharge on all 34 charges, as expected.

“I wish you godspeed as you assume your second term in office," he says.

Merchan tells the court that he has determined that unconditional discharge is “the only lawful sentence, without encroaching upon the highest office of the land”.

An unconditional discharge means Trump does not face any fines, probation or jail time.

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

Justice Merchan acknowledges the issue of presidential immunity - but also lays out for Donald Trump the parameters of those protections.

Though the protections for the office are "extraordinary", he said, "one power they do not provide is the power to erase a jury verdict”.

Trump has argued a very broad view of presidential immunity to try and get this case dismissed or the sentencing stopped. Those efforts have been unsuccessfull.

Madeline Halpert
Reporting from court

Justice Juan Merchan is now addressing the court.

He says he plans to explain why he is giving Trump a sentence of an unconditional discharge, and why he told him so beforehand. That would mean no prison time, fine, or probation.

“Never before has this court been presented with such a unique and remarkable set of circumstances,” Merchan says, calling it a “truly extraordinary case”.

He says the trial was a paradox - because outside the courtroom, it garnered much media attention, but once the courtroom doors were closed, it was no more unique than all the other cases taking place at the same time.

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

Image source, Reuters

Trump wraps up his several minutes of self defence by once again highlighting his election win, and claims weaponisation of the justice system and what he calls "lawfare".

“I would like to explain that I was treated very, very unfairly, and I thank you very much," Trump tells Justice Merchan.

Madeline Halpert
Reporting from court

As Trump speaks, repeating many of the same arguments we’ve heard before, District Attorney Alvin Bragg is watching his face on the screen quietly from the second row of the courtroom.

Bragg chuckles ever so slightly when Trump claims that the district attorney did not even want to bring the case against him.

During the trial, Trump often spoke outside the courtroom and criticised Bragg for charging him with falsifying business records.

But this is the first chance he's had to say it directly to Bragg's face, even if it's via a video link.

Bragg has remained expressionless for much of Trump’s speech, his hands folded in front of him.

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

Image source, Getty Images

Would the defendant like to speak? Justice Merchan asks.

Donald Trump says that in fact, he does. For the first time, we hear from Trump during this trial.

He did not testify in his defense, and so now is using this opportunity to relitigate the case - which is already over.

Trump says "this has been a very terrible experience" and begins to list his issues with the facts and charges involved.

He says that the case was brought to stop him from winning re-election and is saying that he won the 2024 election both in the popular vote and in the electoral college.

"The fact is that I’m totally innocent, I did nothing wrong," Trump says rapidly.

Madeline Halpert
Reporting from court

Image source, Reuters

Todd Blanche has just begun to speak on behalf of Donald Trump, saying he “very much disagree[s]” with what the district attorney’s office has said. He is sitting next to Trump and they are on a video feed, shown in the courtroom.

Trump’s lawyer repeats an argument we heard from him for much of the trial, arguing charges should never have been brought in the first place.

“There’s many, many legal experts that share the same views that I just said - which is that legally this case should not have been brought,” Blanche says, noting that they plan to appeal the conviction.

“The majority of the American people also agree,” he says.

“It’s a sad day for President Trump and his family and friends,” Blanche says. It’s also a “sad day for this country”, he says.

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass also tells the court that Donald Trump's attacks on the court and the criminal justice system had an impact far beyond this courtroom.

Trump caused "enduring damage to public perception of the criminal justice system," Steinglass says. He also notes that members of the court and prosecutors' staff were subjected to threats.

However, because Trump will be inaugurated in 10 days, Steinglass says that his office acknowledges the need to close the book on this case.

“The American public has a right to a presidency unencumbered by pending court proceedings," he says.

But, he also notes, completing the sentencing will formalise Trump's status as a convicted felon.

Madeline Halpert
Reporting from court

Image source, Getty Images

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass is spending much of his statement condemning Donald Trump’s behaviour “before, during and after” the trial.

Trump, Steinglass says, launched a “coordinated campaign to undermine” the legitimacy of the trial.

“He has purposely bred disdain for our judicial institutions and the rule of law,” Steinglass adds.

The assistant district attorney references some of Trump’s many speeches during and outside of the trial, which he frequently called a “witch hunt”, arguing the district attorney’s office was “corrupt”.

Steinglass also references Trump breaking a gag order on multiple occasions that prevented him from speaking about certain witnesses and court staff.

For much of Steinglass's speech, Trump is looking down, expressionless.

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

Both parties will have a chance to address court before Justice Merchan issues his sentence.

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass is speaking to the court first.

"The people recommend a sentence of an unconditional discharge," he tells Merchan - in line with what the judge himself has indicated he will do.