House Speaker Mike Johnson on Friday slammed President-elect Donald Trump’s conviction and sentencing in New York on felony charges of falsifying business records as a “politically motivated and contrived witch hunt” and applauded Trump’s plans to appeal the case.

“This entire case against President Trump has been a politically motivated and contrived witch hunt aimed solely at preventing him from returning to the White House,” Johnson, R-La., said in a statement. “It was never about the facts, and it should have never been brought in the first place.”

Manhattan Judge Juan Merchan formally sentenced Trump Friday to an unconditional discharge, meaning he will serve no time or be ordered to pay any fines. 

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