Judge Juan Merchan on Friday released audio of remarks inside his courtroom during Donald Trump’s “hush money” sentencing. Merchan sentenced the president-elect to an unconditional discharge on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to his 2024 trial at the New York Supreme Court.

The court’s 5-4 order Thursday clears the way for Judge Juan M. Merchan to impose a sentence Friday on Trump, who was convicted in what prosecutors called an attempt to cover up a $130,000 hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels.

New York’s highest court on Thursday rejected President-elect Donald Trump’s bid to postpone his sentencing in the hush money case, leaving the US Supreme Court as his last chance to delay Friday’s scheduled hearing.