Analysis A slap on the wrist - and part of the blame lies with Biden

At his campaign rallies last year, Donald Trump would sometimes gaze up at the heavens and wonder what his late mother and father would have thought of their son standing trial as an accused criminal.

- David Smith

Given that Trump's father, Fred, was a ruthless businessman who told his sons "you are a killer" and "you are a king," the old man was probably looking down yesterday gratified that Donald had essentially got away with it - again.

A judge in New York sentenced the US president-elect to an unconditional discharge for 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment to an adult film performer during the 2016 election. "This court has determined that the only lawful sentence that permits entry of a judgment of conviction without encroaching upon the highest office in the land is an unconditional discharge," Judge Juan Merchan explained.

Legal experts hailed the decision as a victory for the rule of law. It cemented the fact that Trump will enter office 10 days from now as the first US president convicted of a crime. The 78-year-old must carry that stigma for the rest of his life. But in the eyes of the average voter, Trump got off scot free.

No fine. No jail time. In football terms, yesterday's sentencing was a consolation goal when most fans had left the stadium and Trump's name was already being inscribed on the trophy.