# Manhattan Prosecutors file criminal charges for Trump re Stormy Daniels case - ongoing discussion here (Guilty on all 34 counts, May 30, 2024) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [March 9, 2023, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953 "2023-03-09T22:53:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 327
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/6521 "2025-01-03T21:38:18Z")
Judge Merchan has signaled he will grant DJT an unconditional discharge, meaning the felonies stand but he will be released with no fines or jail time. [Reporting from NYTimes here.](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/03/nyregion/trump-sentencing-hush-money-case-ny.html?unlocked_article_code=1.mU4.Httj.BfLgdi0stZJE&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare) (Gift link) ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/6522 "2025-01-03T21:57:47Z")
I’m surprised he won’t get at least a fine. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/6523 "2025-01-03T22:48:08Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Judge Merchan has signaled he will grant DJT an unconditional discharge, meaning the felonies stand but he will be released with no fines or jail time. What’s Merchan afraid of? Justice? ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/6524 "2025-01-03T22:53:03Z")
I was expecting a fine but this doesn’t surprise me either. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/6525 "2025-01-03T22:54:06Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > meaning the felonies stand but he will be released with no fines or jail time. Which of course Trump and his ilk will claim means total innocence and vindication. 🤮 ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/6526 "2025-01-03T23:06:30Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Which of course Trump and his ilk will claim means total innocence and vindication To be fair, they probably would’ve anyways. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/6527 "2025-01-03T23:11:45Z")
It still ticks me off. He should have been given no consideration period. If that caused a crisis, tough shit. Don’t elect a convicted criminal. You shouldn’t even be eligible to be elected if you’re a convicted criminal. This is simply not a nation of laws. John Adams is turning in his grave. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/6528 "2025-01-03T23:16:23Z")
Teflon Don. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/6529 "2025-01-03T23:33:08Z")
I guess the one good thing is that he is now and will forever be a convicted felon. Even if he faces no actual punishment, his conviction was not overturned, he was not pardoned, his record wasn’t expunged. He’s a felon. He will go down in history as a felon. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/6530 "2025-01-03T23:45:58Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > He’s a felon I assume he can legally be around other felons, but can other felons (subject to that restriction) be around him? ---
**Author:** ![JacobSwan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@JacobSwan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JacobSwan)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/6531 "2025-01-03T23:53:48Z")
Are there any countries that refuse entry for convicted felons? Could make for a few awkward state visits. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/6532 "2025-01-03T23:54:33Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I assume he can legally be around other felons, but can other felons (subject to that restriction) be around him? Funny, Rudy just asked the same question. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2025, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/6533 "2025-01-04T00:04:16Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > It still ticks me off. He should have been given no consideration period. > > If that caused a crisis, tough shit. Don’t elect a convicted criminal. You shouldn’t even be eligible to be elected if you’re a convicted criminal. > > This is simply not a nation of laws. John Adams is turning in his grave. Maybe Judge Merchan just wants to stay out of jail himself. This is what happens when democracy is exercised by the _ignorati_ who elected a convicted felon, incompetent, and self-aggrandizing vindictive reprobate to the most powerful office in the world. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2025, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/6534 "2025-01-04T00:07:13Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Maybe Judge Merchan just wants to stay out of jail himself. If a judge doing his proper duty has to be worried about going to prison for making the wrong person mad… > [@Atamasama](#): > > This is simply not a nation of laws. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2025, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/6535 "2025-01-04T00:10:32Z")
Or a nation of “Laws for thee, but not for me.” ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2025, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/6536 "2025-01-04T00:27:10Z")
> [@JacobSwan](#): > > Are there any countries that refuse entry for convicted felons? I’m pretty sure Canada won’t let US citizens in if they have felonies like DUI. I guess they could meet at the border for their discussion on Canada becoming the 51st state. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2025, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/6537 "2025-01-04T00:35:57Z")
Yup, the People have Spoken, and what they said was that they were OK with electing a convicted felon. Logically, that means they’re OK with the President being sentenced, too. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2025, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/6538 "2025-01-04T00:45:54Z")
Worse mud monster Don. With a teflon president, mud that is slung at him just slides off and doesn’t affect him. With a mud monster president, the mud that hits him makes him stronger. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2025, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/6539 "2025-01-04T01:02:50Z")
> [@JacobSwan](#): > > Are there any countries that refuse entry for convicted felons? Could make for a few awkward state visits. Most countries do not have the exact concept of dividing criminal violations into misdemeanors and felonies. But the current president of Brazil is what we might call a convicted felon. It would be a terrible idea to bar him from entry when on diplomatic missions. As host to the United Nations, it would be especially bad for the U.S. to do this. While Trump is stubborn, in his first term, he did sometimes listen to expert advice. Preventing him from visiting countries in which the rule of law abides, and in which he may get such good advice, would be a terrible idea. Nations that have a law against admitting the likes of DJT will wisely make an exception when he is president. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2025, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/6540 "2025-01-04T05:35:04Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I assume he can legally be around other felons, but can other felons (subject to that restriction) be around him? And he can’t come to Canada. Or several other countries. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953.md?page=326) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953.md?page=328)