President-elect Donald Trump appeared in court virtually from his Mar-a-Lago home on Friday and was convicted of his crimes New York “hush money” case and released without restrictions.

Judge Juan Merchandise followed through on a promise he made a week ago to give Trump an unconditional parole sentence that does not include prison time or other restrictions that could hamper Trump after his Jan. 20 inauguration.

Merchan said during Friday’s sentencing that he granted the sentence because he believed it was the only legal option, just 10 days before Trump assumes the presidency.

Merchan told the court that “this was a truly extraordinary case,” although even after the courtroom doors closed, he felt the trial was no more special or unique than any other.

However, he told Trump, the same cannot be said about the circumstances of the president-elect’s conviction “because of the office you once held and will soon hold again.” Merchan said it was the legal protection afforded to the office of president that was exceptional, “not the holder of the office.”

Those legal protections are one factor that overrides all others, Merchan said, but they are not a mitigating factor. He said they did not reduce the seriousness of the crimes or overturn the jury’s verdict.

Merchan said he had concluded that the only lawful punishment he could impose without attacking the highest post in the land was an unconditional dismissal.

Donald Trump, the civilian, he said, might not have received such a light sentence.

In the courtroom, Trump and attorney Todd Blanche – who was also chosen by the president-elect to serve as deputy attorney general – were seen via video feed sitting next to each other in a room, with two American flags visible behind them with dark wooden walls.

Trump was given the opportunity to speak in court. He called the trial “a very terrible experience” and “a huge setback for New York.”

“With all the terrible things that are happening, I was sued for calling legal fees legal fees,” Trump said, referring to the bogus refunds to a former lawyer for a “hush money” payment that is at the heart of the case.

“It was a political witch hunt,” Trump said on camera. “It was done to tarnish my reputation so that I would lose the election, and obviously that didn’t work.”

“The fact is that I am completely innocent,” Trump said. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”

Before sentencing, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said Trump’s attack on the justice system and prosecutors in this case “represents a direct attack on the rule of law itself.”

“Instead of expressing any kind of remorse for his criminal conduct, the defendant intentionally fomented contempt for our judicial institutions and the rule of law, and he did so to serve his own purposes and to encourage others to ignore the jury’s verdict, “I find it so tasteless,” Steinglass said.

“Simply put, this defendant has caused lasting damage to the public’s perception of the criminal justice system and put the officers of the court at risk,” Steinglass said. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg was present in the gallery but did not address the court.

Blanche said he strongly disagreed with Steinglass’ assessment of the case and Trump’s behavior. He claimed it was not just Trump and the experts Trump cited who believed the case should not have been brought, but the majority of the American people, referring to those who voted for the Republican in November had.

Trump and his lawyers have battled Manhattan prosecutors at every turn since the “hush money” investigation began in 2018. They have challenged Merchan’s prosecutors’ subpoenas and rulings and fought all the way to the Supreme Court several times, including in this case week to block Friday’s hearing.

The Supreme Court announced this on Thursday wouldn’t intervene on behalf of Trump to clear the way for Merchan to announce his decision. Trump said shortly after the Supreme Court’s decision that he had read it and “believed it was actually a fair decision,” pointing out that the Supreme Court justices had indicated that he could appeal and that it ” “There really would be no punishment.”

“But we will still appeal,” he added in his statement Thursday evening.

“So, I’ll do my little thing tomorrow. “You can have fun with your political opponent,” Trump said.

Although there are no cameras in the courtroom, an audio recording of the proceedings will be released after the hearing concludes.

While Trump’s trial and impeachment drew crowds and late-night lines, the public line was sparse Friday morning and no spectators were seen in the park across the street before dawn.

Trump was convicted in May after a seven-week trial. A unanimous jury concluded that he committed 34 felonies when he approved a scheme to falsify records in 2017 to obtain refunds for “Hush money“Payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Daniels testified at the trial, as did Trump’s former lawyer and “fixer” Michael Cohen, who received the bogus refunds for his wire transfer to Daniels shortly before the 2016 presidential election. Cohen gave Daniels the $130,000 payment in exchange for her silence about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump years earlier.

Several witnesses said Trump was glad voters didn’t hear about Daniels’ story before the 2016 election.

Merchan held Trump in contempt 10 times during the trial for violating a gag order that barred him from making public comments about witnesses, court staff and others. With the 10th contempt charge, Merchan — who frequently acknowledged the special circumstances of the trial and its famous, powerful defendant — hinted at the likely verdict Friday.

“The last thing I want to do is put you in jail,” Merchan said.

On Friday, Merchan told Trump, “The only lawful sentence that allows a judgment of conviction to be entered without impairing the highest office in the land is an unconditional dismissal.”

“Thank you for your second term,” Merchan said.