Why did Manhattan Judge Merchan refuse to impose any punishment on Trump in hush money case?

Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan sentences President-elect Trump to 'unconditional discharge' in New York hush money case. Judge Merchan spared Trump jail time or other fines. Critics argue that Judge Merchan could have, at the bare minimum, imposed a symbolic fine on Trump, whose status is now cemented as a felon. Legal commentators in favour of the ruling argue that any punishment could have impeded in Trump's upcoming official duties as president. Chapter Breakdown: 0:00 Judge Merchan sentences Trump to unconditional discharge 1:58 Richard Painter, Law Professor at University of Minnesota, former chief White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush 9:01 Ronald Sullivan, Law Professor at Harvard University, on why he believes Judge Merchan's discharge of Trump was correct For more news go to: http://www.dw.com/en/ For more news, analysis and background information on the German election 2025 go to our dedicated page: https://www.dw.com/en/german-election-2025/t-70794502 Follow DW on social media: ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwnews ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dwnews ►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deutschewellenews/ ►Twitter: https://twitter.com/dwnews Für Videos in deutscher Sprache besuchen Sie: https://www.youtube.com/dwdeutsch Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/deutschewelleenglish?sub_confirmation=1