Jan. 10 (UPI) -- President-elect Donald Trump faces sentencing in New York Friday for his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records.
The sentencing hearing began at 9:30 a.m. EST. Trump will become the first president to be sentenced on criminal charges. Trump will attend virtually from his Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Fla.
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass recommended a sentence of unconditional discharge, meaning Trump would not be imprisoned or placed on parole. While Trump has been referred to as a convicted felon since the court's unanimous verdict came down last spring, in the eyes of the judiciary he must be sentenced to complete his conviction. A sentence of unconditional discharge does that.
When Merchan ruled Monday that he will not delay the sentencing hearing any further, he said he will not sentence Trump to any jail time. Trump faced the possibility of jail time, house arrest and probation.
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