Blanche Says Trump Escaped Prison on 34 Felonies by Winning 2024 Election
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 3
Blanche Says Trump Escaped Prison on 34 Felonies by Winning 2024 Election
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 3
Todd Blanche said Donald Trump would “absolutely” have gone to prison after his 34-count New York felony conviction if he had not won the 2024 election.
Blanche, who led Trump’s hush-money defense, said the presidency halted a path he saw as leading to jail, citing the New York case and other federal matters that had been pending or under appeal.
The 34 convictions stemmed from falsifying business records tied to a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election, making Trump the first current or former U.S. president criminally convicted.
The judge ultimately imposed an unconditional discharge—leaving Trump a convicted felon but sparing him jail, fines or other penalties—after his 312-226 victory over Kamala Harris.
Blanche also called the case a politically driven “travesty,” arguing prosecutors used novel legal theories and that Trump would not have faced the same prosecutions had he not run for president.
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Trump’s Unprecedented Felony Conviction and Unconditional Discharge: Implications for Justice, Accountability, and Reform
Overview
On January 10, 2025, Judge Juan Merchan granted President-elect Donald Trump an unconditional discharge after his felony conviction, meaning Trump faced no jail time, probation, or fines. This rare and lenient outcome, recommended by prosecutors, aimed to uphold the jury’s verdict while avoiding interference with Trump’s ability to govern as the incoming president. The decision was shaped by the unique circumstances of sentencing a president-elect and was intended to establish a final judgment, allowing Trump to appeal. This unprecedented case highlighted how the demands of high office can influence judicial outcomes and sparked debate about fairness in the justice system.