'Huge disappointment': Hear Trump's courtroom response to Judge Merchan's 'political witch hunt'

Audio tape of President-elect Donald Trump A New York City sentencing hearing released to the public on Friday provided insight into an unprecedented case against a former president in which Trump was eventually sentenced to parole.

“This was a terrible incident,” Trump, who attended the criminal trial, told a New York City court on Friday morning. “I think it was a huge setback for New York and the New York court system.”

“This is a case that Alvin Bragg didn't want to bring. He thought that from what I've read and what I hear, it could be handled improperly before he got there. A gentleman from a law firm came in and worked as a district attorney,” continued the president-elect. “And that gentleman, from what I heard, was a criminal or almost a criminal.” in what he does. It was totally inappropriate. It was a person connected to my political opponent.”

“I think it's a shame in New York and New York has a lot of problems, but this is a big shame,” he added.

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At one point, Trump leaned forward, looking at Judge Juan Merchan, and made a reference to the November election, suggesting that he was standing up against the case.

“It was a political witch hunt,” Trump explained. “It was done to damage my reputation so that I would lose the election. And apparently, that didn't work. And the people of our country saw this personally because they watched the case in your court. They saw this first hand. Then they voted, I won.”

Assistant District Attorney Josh Steinglass said there is “overwhelming evidence supporting the judge's decision” and was critical of Trump, saying the president-elect “has done lasting damage to the public's perception of the criminal justice system and put judicial officials at risk.” and the comments he made publicly during the trial.

““I strongly disagree with a lot of what the government has just said about this case, about the legality of what happened in this court during the trial and President Trump's conduct in fighting this case from before it was indicted, when it was indicted, the jury's decision, until now,” Trump's attorney Todd Blanche said in response. the prosecutors.

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Former President Donald Trump appeared in court to be arraigned before Judge Juan Merchan following his surrender to New York authorities in New York County Criminal Court earlier this year. (Photo by Seth Wenig-Pool via USA TODAY)

During the hearing, Judge Juan Merchan defended the actions he took at the time.

“Sentencing is one of the most difficult decisions a criminal court judge is called upon to make,” Merchan said, noting that the court “must consider the facts of the case and any aggravating or mitigating circumstances.”

Merchan pondered this case, saying “never before has this court been presented with such different circumstances.” The judge said it was an “unusual case” with media attention and heightened security but said that once the courtroom doors were closed, the trial itself was “no more unique or unusual” than any other case.

Merchan acknowledged that Trump is afforded important legal protections but said that “the power does not give the power to overturn a judge's decision.”

“Sir, I wish you Godspeed as you take a second term in office,” said Merchan as the proceedings closed.

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Justice Juan Merchan instructs the jury before deliberations during the trial of Republican presidential candidate and former president Donald Trump on charges of falsifying business records to hide money paid to silence sex star Stormy Daniels in 2016, in Manhattan district court in New York City, in May. 29, 2024 in this court drawing. (REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg)

Merchan's unconditional release sentence means no punishment is imposed: no jail time, fines or probation. The sentence also preserves Trump's ability to appeal.

“After careful consideration, this court issued the only legal sentence that allows a person to be acquitted without conditions,” said Merchan on Friday. “For now, I'm setting that sentence to include all 34 counts.”

Trump's team said in court that they will appeal this sentence, and he will be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Jan. 20.

Fox News Digital's Brooke Singman contributed to this report