Donald Trump’s New York business‑records/hush‑money case resulted in a May 2024 felony conviction on 34 counts, but when he was finally sentenced on January 10, 2025, Judge Juan Merchan imposed an unconditional discharge—no jail time, no probation, no fine, and no community service—leaving only collateral consequences such as a felony record, loss of gun rights, and a DNA submission requirement. (apnews.com) The conviction remains on the books and is being appealed in New York’s courts, and Trump has also pursued related federal litigation seeking to move or undo the case; so far, no appellate court has overturned the verdict. (theguardian.com) Because this is a state conviction, it is not subject to a presidential pardon, and no form of clemency has mooted it. (theguardian.com) However, by late 2025 the criminal‑justice outcome is effectively limited to a largely symbolic sentence with minimal practical punishment, while Trump continues to serve again as president, which aligns with Jason’s core claim that the case would function more like a political “speeding ticket” than a source of severe long‑term punishment—even though his more specific expectations about an outright overturning or pardon have not (at least yet) materialized. (theguardian.com)