Former President Donald Trump Acquitted in Stormy Daniels hush money case – Sky News”>Stormy Daniels Hush Money Case
In an unexpected turn of events, a New York court has acquitted former President Donald Trump of all charges related to theStormy Daniels hush money scandal. While Trump was found guilty on paper, the "unconditional discharge" means he faces no punishment. However, the court record officially shows a guilty verdict. This ruling comes just days before Trump resumes his role as US President.
Judge Juan Merchan made it clear that the outcome wasn’t due to Trump’s former presidency but rather the upcoming inauguration. "The ordinary citizen Donald Trump, the criminally accused Donald Trump," Merchan stated, "does not deserve the legal protection that the Office of the President confers."
Trump, appearing via video link from his Mar-a-Lago resort, took the acquittal in stride. "I’m completely innocent," he told the court, echoing his longstanding claim that the entire case is a "political witch hunt."
The case traces back to Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign when he, through his then-lawyer Michael Cohen, paid $130,000 to Daniels to stay silent about an alleged affair. Cohen pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations in 2018, and Trump’s company, The Trump Organization, was later convicted of tax fraud and other financial crimes in relation to the payment.
Despite the acquittal, Trump’s critics point to the persistent "grievous harm" he’s caused to public perception of the justice system. Ahead of the verdict, Trump emailed his supporters asking for donations, even if efforts to stop the indictment failed. Earlier in the week, his request for a new trial was denied by an appellate court in New York.
Professing his innocence, Trump maintains that he’ll be remembered for this, not the legal troubles. Speaking to NRK, statsvitenskap professor Hilmar Mjelde agreed, suggesting that Trump’s acquittal was part of a larger effort to protect the incoming president’s ability to govern effectively.
"He is a person who seeks honor and respect," Mjelde noted, "and it’s very embarrassing and unpleasant for him to be associated with criminality."
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