New York Judge Juan Merchan gave Americans an unusual level of access Friday by making public the audio from President-elect Donald Trump 's criminal sentencing.

On Friday, the sentencing of President-Elect Donald Trump saw one of the most impassioned defense arguments given at such a hearing in years … from the judge himself.

Judge Juan Merchan spoke to President-elect Donald Trump for several minutes as he imposed a sentence of unconditional discharge without any punishment in the New York hush money case. Merchan cited the protections of ‘office of the presidency’ as he explained his ruling.