Subject: Re: Why didn't judge Merchan impose a fine?
Only the most hard core of left wing AI chatbots believes this case has any legal merit and Merchan knows that.

Oh, that's not right. The case certainly has legal merit. If Trump weren't the President-elect, he'd certainly get a whopping fine and perhaps some other sanctions relating to business operations, and perhaps probation.

But Merchan knows that Trump's status as President-elect makes it nigh impossible for a state judicial system to assert the type of control and jurisdiction over him necessary to actually impose a penalty - at least, not without solving a bunch of really thorny legal issues that will take years to resolve. Hence, the sentence.