A judge set Trump's sentencing in the hush money case for January 10, but said no jail time

A judge on Friday upheld the sentencing of US president-elect Donald Trump in his money laundering case on January 10 – a little more than a week before he returns to the White House – but promised no jail time.

Judge Juan M. Merchan, who presided over Trump's trial, signed off on a written decision to sentence the former and incoming president to what is known as conditional discharge, where the charge is dismissed if the defendant avoids further imprisonment.

The development marks yet another turning point in the same situation.

A jury convicted Trump in May of 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 US hush money payment to sex actress Stormy Daniels in 2016. Trump denies any wrongdoing.

The allegations involve a scheme to cover up a payment to Daniels in the final days of Trump's 2016 presidential campaign to prevent him from publicizing his alleged affair with a then-married businessman years ago. He says that nothing sexual happened between them.

After Trump's November 5 election, Merchan halted the proceedings and postponed the sentencing indefinitely so the defense and prosecutors could consider the future of the case.

Trump's lawyers urged Merchan to drop it. They said that if not, it will cause unconstitutional “disturbance” in the power of the incoming president.

Prosecutors agreed that there should be an accommodation for his presidency, but said the conviction should stand.

They suggested various things, such as closing the case while he was incarcerated or assuring him that he would not be arrested. They also proposed closing the case while formally noting his conviction and his pending appeal — an idea based on what other state courts do when criminal defendants die while appealing their cases.

Trump takes office on January 20.