Donald Trump’s felony sentencing Friday morning had many of the trappings of his prior appearances at Manhattan supreme court. Queues of bleary-eyed reporters. Clusters of amped-up court officers. Whispers of worrisome internet service among concerned journalists.
What Trump’s hush money sentencing did not have: Trump in person.
When the judge, Juan Merchan, issued his 3 January decision upholding the jury’s verdict on the once-and-future US president, he scheduled Trump’s sentencing for 10 January and he gave Trump an opportunity to attend virtually, if he so chose.
Trump took him up on that offer – despite having used the courthouse as a campaign stop and platform for airing his many grievances throughout his trial.
Trump’s absence was felt. When the courthouse doors opened just before 8am ET, attendees only had to pass through one set of metal detectors, rather than one downstairs and one upstairs. Those with state courts-specific press credentials didn’t have to walk through any magnetometers at all.
With Trump gone, security was getting back to normal.
Around 9am, members of the press and public were ushered into Merchan’s courtroom. Four large television screens were set up that featured “Standby” messages in a blue motif, with a clock.
Sketch artists were seated in the jury box, readying their art pads, pencils, pens and pastels for the main attraction – Trump’s appearance via video. Slightly before 9.30am, computer monitors on the prosecution and defense tables – which were visible to anyone looking toward the front of the courtroom, like the gallery – were aglow with the visages of Trump and his lead lawyer, Todd Blanche, even though the large courtroom screens remained on standby.
Trump and Blanche could be seen speaking with one another, with the incoming president showing displeasure, as per usual. They were seated in front of two large American flags that were draped at angles, one slightly overlapping the other.
A group of photographers was then escorted into the courtroom. They snapped photos of the Trump video feed, which was projected on a large screen facing the bench, and then swiftly left the courtroom. At one juncture, a stern-faced Trump pointed at the photographers.
After the proceeding kicked off shortly after 9:30am,
Trump, who has a history of courtroom outbursts and antagonizing people associated with his cases, shook his head at one point but appeared to remain relatively even-keeled as things unfolded. When the proceedings started, Trump and Blanche appeared on the larger screens.
When Trump had the opportunity to address Merchan, he delivered a rambling monologue, but it wasn’t the most outlandish display many might have expect from him on such a historic day. Trump was about to become the first US president ever criminally tried, convicted, and sentenced – set to return to the White House as a felon.
“This has been a very terrible experience,” Trump said.
In closing, Trump said “I was treated very, very unfairly.” Trump then told the court: “And I thank you very much.”
Merchan, who previously indicated that he would not sentence Trump to jail, also showed restraint, running through his legal reasoning for the sentence.
The office of the president enjoys extraordinary legal protections, and US voters once again decided that Trump should have those protections, Merchan said. At the same time, “despite the extraordinary breadth of those protections, one power they do not provide is the power to erase a jury verdict.”
In the end, Merchan felt the “only lawful sentence” balancing these factors would be an unconditional discharge.
After Merchan officially handed down his sentence, he told Trump: “Sir, I wish you godspeed as you assume your second term in office.”
The proceeding – perhaps rarely in this age of political turmoil, division and deep unease in America – ended unremarkably.
Article by:Source Victoria Bekiempis in New York
