Highlights: Judge sentences Trump to 'unconditional discharge' in hush money case

New York Judge Juan Merchan allowed media organizations to record the audio from inside the courtroom as he sentenced President-elect Donald Trump on Friday to an “unconditional discharge” in the hush money case in which he was found guilty by a jury last year of 34 counts of falsifying business records.

It is the first time in the trial that recordings are being made available to the public from inside the courtroom. Trump appeared at the sentencing virtually from Florida.

Listen to the audio here.

In a lengthy post, Trump called his unconditional discharge sentence a "hoax" and repeated that he will appeal it.

"Today’s event was a despicable charade, and now that it is over, we will appeal this Hoax, which has no merit, and restore the trust of Americans in our once great System of Justice," he wrote.

Rudy Giuliani, who acted as Trump's attorney in several lawsuits, is battling his own legal troubles this morning.

A federal judge will hear arguments today in Giuliani's second contempt of court hearing this week in the defamation case against him involving former Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Wandrea “Shaye” Moss.

Giuliani is set to be in the Washington, D.C., courthouse where the judge will consider whether the former New York City mayor and lawyer for Donald Trump should be sanctioned with financial penalties for continuing to defame Freeman and Moss on his streaming show despite a court-ordered agreement that said he wouldn’t.

Giuliani, who has called the cases against him "witch hunts," has said that his comments on his show weren’t defamatory and that it “is my First Amendment right to talk about the case and my defense.”

Read the full article here.

Trump sent out a fundraising email immediately after being sentenced, saying he wants to hear from his supporters.

The email links to a page soliciting monetary donations and asking if they stand with him after his sentencing.

Judge Merchan left the bench at about 10:08 a.m. ET, ending the hearing.

Merchan sentenced Trump to unconditional discharge for 34 counts of falsifying business records.

“At this time I impose that sentence to cover all 34 counts," he said.

Merchan said he wishes Trump godspeed for his second term in office.

President-elect Donald Trump appears remotely today for a sentencing hearing with his attorney Todd Blanche. Jabin Botsford / Pool via Getty Images

Judge Merchan is beginning to deliver Trump's sentence. He is explaining his reasoning, nodding to the gravity any judge faces in determining what is a just sentence.

"Never before has this court been presented with such a unique and remarkable set of circumstances," Merchan said.

Merchan wants to emphasize that the trial itself was conduct pursuant to the same rules of procedure and law that applies to any other trial, and that once the courtroom doors were closed, the trial was “ordinary” even if the circumstances surrounding this sentencing are anything but. But in a swipe at Trump, he is now making clear that the office of the president itself, not the occupant, is what is exceptional here

"This has been a truly extraordinary case," the judge continued. "Once the courtroom doors were closed, the trial itself was no more special, unique, and extraordinary than the other 32 cases in this courthouse."

Trump complained about his gag order while speaking during the sentencing hearing.

"I was under a gag order. I guess I'm still under so I probably won't do it now. I am totally innocent. I did nothing wrong," he said.

Trump is still under a gag order in the case.

Trump said that New York prosecutors brought the hush money case against him in order to attack his presidential campaign.

“This has been a political witch hunt," he said. "It was done to damage my reputation so I would lose the election.”

Addressing the court, Trump said the case has been a "setback for New York."

“This has been a very terrible experience,” Trump said through the screen in the courtroom.

He went on to say that the case is a setback for the New York court system, and was "inappropriately handled" by DA Bragg.

Trump called Bragg a "criminal" who was acting as a political opponent.

“They weren’t put down by me, they were put down by accountants," Trump said.

Blanche said that he disagrees with much of the government's argument about the case and what happened during the trial “and about President Trump’s conduct fighting this case from before it was indicted, to while it was indicted, to the jury’s verdict, and even to this day.”

Blanche said that Trump's legal team disagrees that it was an appropriate case to be brought, saying that multiple prosecutors had previously looked at the case and decided not to bring charges before Bragg did.

Blanche called today a "very sad day" both for the country and for Trump. He said he would appeal whatever sentence is brought against the incoming president.

“This is a case that without a doubt was brought by a district attorney who promised he would go after President Trump if elected, and he had to go through with that promise," he said.

Steinglass told Judge Merchan that Trump's "unrelenting attacks against this court and their families" have been "a direct attack on the rule of law" and threatens the criminal justice system itself.

The prosecutor told the court that Trump called this trial “Corrupt, Rigged, a Witch hunt or a sham too many times to count." He added that the president-elect has been held in contempt on other matters and that he has threatened to retaliate against the prosecution.

Steinglass said Trump is doing this “with the hopes that they will ignore the defendant’s transgressions because they fear he is simply too powerful to be subjected to the same rule of law as the rest of us.”

The prosecutor said that Merchan should be mindful of that contempt, saying that ultimately, "this defendant has caused enduring damage to the public perception of the criminal justice system."

Trump has looked bored, and just leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. When Steinglass said he has acted with disdain for the rule of law, he appeared as if he nodded.

Steinglass is not devoting much time to recapping the offenses, however. He is spending more time describing Trump’s lack of remorse, intimidation of witnesses, accusations of unlawful conduct by the judge and the prosecution, and threats of retaliation against the prosecutors in the hopes that they and others would be scared off from enforcing the law. Now Trump was paying attention, leaning forward on the table, but he became less attentive as Steinglass read from Chief Justice John Roberts’ year-end report, which warned of the dangers of misinformation and threats to judicial officers.

Explaining the prosecution's recommendation of unconditional release for Trump, Steinglass cited respect for the office of the presidency, noting Trump is set to be inaugurated as commander-in-chief in just 10 days. Jailing Trump would enormously complicate his ability to serve the American people as president.

Unconditional discharge is the most viable solution to pursue finality in this case, Steinglass said.

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass walked the court through what Trump was convicted of, including a conspiracy to promote his own election.

He said that there was overwhelming evidence and that it was premeditated.

"The verdict that was delivered by a jury that was carefully chosen," Steinglass said, was "unanimous" and "must be respected."

Prosecutor Josh Steinglass, “The people recommend a sentence of unconditional release." This means Trump won't receive a penalty but will still be considered a convicted felon.

Trump is frowning with pursed lips and both he and Blanche are staring at the monitor in front of them. Trump is wearing a red and white striped tie. There are American flags behind them.

Judge Merchan addressed the court, saying that he wants to confirm "that the people and the defense counsel have both received copies of the pre-sentence report.” 

Blanche told Merchan that he did receive a copy of the report this morning, but there is one thing he wants to put on the record.

“Some of the facts and procedural history are not up to date … because of what’s happened since the date of the report," Blanche said.

Judge Merchan said that Trump was given the option to appear in person and he elected to waive his personal appearance and show up virtually.

Merchan said that appearing virtually is permitted in New York.

Trump lawyer Todd Blanche acknowledged that he is in Florida with Trump.

Merchan just took the bench. He calls the case.

District Attorney Alvin Bragg has entered the courtroom.

We can see Trump and Blanche on a monitor on the livestream, but we are still waiting for Merchan.

The prosecution team has entered the courtroom, including their paralegals, who were witnesses at the trial. The team is led by prosecutors Joshua Steinglass and Susan Hoffinger.

District Attorney Bragg is not yet at the courtroom, nor is his leadership team. But, Steve Wu, the office’s chief of appeals has arrived.

There are five members of the public in the main courtroom. Several of them were here during the trial itself. 

Trump attorney Emil Bove is in the courtroom. Todd Blanche is not there, he was expected to attend the hearing virtually from Mar-a-Lago.

A source with knowledge tells NBC News that the Trump sentencing will proceed as follows: 

Manhattan DA’s prosecutor will speak if they want to.

Defense attorney Todd Blanche will speak if he wants to.

Donald Trump will speak if he desires.

Judge Juan Merchan will impose the sentence. 

A crowd of protestors — including both those condemning and supporting Trump — are standing outside of the courthouse in lower Manhattan as the former president awaits his sentence.

A group of anti-Trump demonstrators stood holding signs with Trump's face on them, reading lines like "fascist," "fraud," and "morally bankrupt." Another sign read, "Today's sentencing: Justice delayed is justice denied." Alongside their signs, the group stood together holding a large banner that reads, 'Trump is guilty."

Pro-Trump demonstrators are also at the courthouse brandishing their own signs. One group held a large banner reading, "Free Trump Save America."

Dion Cini was outside with a small "MAGA Forever" banner and told NBC News he was "here to witness the one of the most tyrannical moves this country has ever made, since King George left, since we won the Revolutionary War, the taking down of a president for political reasons, and focusing more on the crimes of bookkeeping errors than real crimes in New York City."

Trump is set to face sentencing in his hush money case in New York City after the Supreme Court denied his last-minute appeal to block the proceedings. NBC’s Garrett Haake reports for "TODAY."

Supreme Court rejects Trump's bid to halt criminal sentencing

01:22

Trump is scheduled to be sentenced this morning on felony charges — a history-making moment he had tried desperately to make sure wouldn’t happen before his inauguration 10 days from now.

The sentencing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. ET in New York criminal court, with Trump attending remotely.

Read the full story here.

The Supreme Court yesterday rejected Trump’s request to block criminal proceedings in his hush money case in New York, meaning today's sentencing hearing can go ahead.

The decision on a 5-4 vote with four conservatives dissenting meant the conservative-majority court changed course after having handed Trump two big wins last year. Trump is set to return to the presidency Jan. 20.

Read the full story here.