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Sunday, November 15, 2026Nov 15

Opinion: Never again should we use courtrooms as political tools

Photo/image/Elizabeth Williams via The Associated Press / Judge Juan Merchan, right, sentences President-elect Donald Trump, who appeared remotely via video with his attorney Todd Blanche, left, during Trump's sentencing hearing in Manhattan Criminal Court, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in New York.
Photo/image/Elizabeth Williams via The Associated Press / Judge Juan Merchan, right, sentences President-elect Donald Trump, who appeared remotely via video with his attorney Todd Blanche, left, during Trump's sentencing hearing in Manhattan Criminal Court, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in New York.

Donald Trump got the sentence he deserved.

An embittered Judge Juan Merchan, sitting in a Manhattan courtroom, handed the president-elect an unconditional discharge on his 34 felony convictions related to hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels.

No jail time. No probation. No fines.

The penalty was befitting the crime ginned up by Trump-hating New York City prosecutor Alvin Bragg, who saw as his duty assuring Trump never returned to the White House.

Bragg operated under Stalinist legal principle, “Give me the man and I will give you the case against him.”