New York judge gives Trump no sentence

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A New York judge sentenced President-elect Donald Trump to unconditional release on his conviction for falsifying business records to cover up an affair with an adult film actress.

Judge Juan Merchan's sentence on the 34 felony convictions means Trump will serve no jail time, pay no fines and will not be on probation. Trump takes office on Jan. 20.

ABC News reports Merchan imposed the lack of punishment out of respect for presidential immunity.

Trump chose to speak before Merchan imposed his sentence, showing zero contrition and launching into the same attacks against the “political witch hunt” that he’s been claiming since he was first indicted more than 20 months ago, CNN reported.

Trump has maintained his innocence and says the case was politically motivated. The sentencing confirmed his status as the first American president to be a convicted felon.

Trump concluded his speech by noting that the voters had put him back in office, CNN reported, even ticking off the fact that he won all seven swing states and the popular vote.

The voters had “been watching your trial so they understood it,” the president-elect said, implying that the case helped return him to the White House.

Prosecutors agreed with the sentence Merchan imposed.

However, an assistant prosecutor noted that a probation officer's report on Trump said the president-elect "sees himself as above the law."

Merchan noted the legal protections of the presidency – but said there’s a big caveat, CNN reports.

“One power they do not provide is the power to erase a jury verdict,” Merchan said.

Trump had been scheduled for a July sentencing but that was pushed back several times after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that granted broad presidential immunity.

Trump has vowed to appeal the verdict.

CNN Newsource contributed to this report.