A Felony Conviction and the Oval Office: The Perils of Presidential Immunity and Moral Compromise

The sentencing of Donald Trump to an unconditional discharge in his hush-money case—a conviction that leaves him as the first U.S. president-elect with a felony on his record—marks an extraordinary chapter in American legal, political, and moral history. Justice Merchan's decision, though couched in high-minded language about respecting the office of the presidency, sets a…