In an 18-page legal opinion, Judge Juan Merchan laid out his reasoning for the ruling. His most important finding was that Trump's conviction should not be thrown out simply because he was elected president.\u201cIndeed, the sanctity of a jury verdict and the deference that must be accorded to it, is a bedrock principle in our Nation’s jurisprudence,\u201d Merchan wrote.
But the judge also signaled that he intended to impose a sentence of \u201cunconditional discharge,\u201d which means Trump would not face any punishment beyond having the conviction on his legal record. Trump's spokesperson said after Merchan's ruling that the president-elect would continue to fight against the case, which he called a hoax.A president-elect is not immune from prosecution \u201cThe Constitution dictates that only a President, after taking the oath of office, has the authority of the Chief Executive, a President-elect does not. Accordingly, a President-elect is not permitted to avail himself of the protections afforded to the individual occupying that Office. .