butjudge merchan said, hey, we can'tjust let people who were convicted in a jury to be scot free.supreme court said, hey, you're not. they did not weigh on state charges. and so he said, there's no get out ofjail free card in this instance. it's called an unconditional discharge. and so it's almost like a slap on the wrist. it's saying, hey, for people who are committing crimes like this in the future, which was business fraud charges and you're found guilty, you know, we're not going to wipe the slate clean for trump. we're not going to say this verdict in this conviction did not happen at all. and so in reality, he's not going to get prison time. he's not going to get probation time. he is not going to even get a fine. so he doesn't have to pay a penny to new york state taxpayers or the court system. but he will appeal this conviction, likely. and it may go all the way to the supreme court, and we'll have to see what they say. but for at least a certain amount of time, it looks likely that he will be a felon on day one, which is not what his voters would have wanted, especially

butjudge merchan said we cannotjust hard. butjudge merchan said we cannot just let hard.convicted higherjury to be scot—free when trump himself and the supreme court said that they did not weigh on state charges. he said there is no get out ofjail card in this instance. get out of “ail card in this instance.— get out of “ail card in this instance. the crux was an argument _ instance. the crux was an argument about - instance. the crux was an l argument about residential immunity. what does this decision byjudge merchan to pass a sentence but likely not imprisonment. what does that mean in practice going forward? it is cold and unconditional discharge, almost like a slap on the wrist. it says hey, four people are committing crimes like in the future, business fraud charges if you are found guilty, not going to wipe away the slate clean for donald trump. we will not say that this verdict in this conviction did not happen at all. in reality he is not going to get present time and will not get probation time, he will not even get a fine so he does not have to pay a penny to n

this means the sentencing is slated to take place this friday — butjudge merchan has previously said trump's conviction on charges of falsiyfing business records still stands. around 60 million ameicans are under severe weather alerts, as a winter storm sweeps through the east coast — bringing heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures. as many as five deaths have reportedly been connected to the dangerous storm. seven states — including kentucky, virginia, maryland and kansas — have declared a state of emergency. in the worst—hit state of kansas, authorities have closed two major interstate highways. the storm has also disrupted flight travel across the east coast, with more than 1,500 cancelled due to heavy snowfall. here in washington, the national weather service says isolated areas could see over a foot of snowfall. forcasters say a polar vortex — an area of cold air that circulates around the arctic — is causing the weather as it shifts further south than usual. for more i've been speaking with our correspondent merlyn thomas. here in washington, dc, the snow has continued to fal