In a landmark decision, a New York jury convicted Donald Trump on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, making him the first former U.S. President to be found guilty of a crime. The verdict, which came just five months before the 2024 presidential election, adds a significant twist to his campaign as he seeks to recapture the White House.
The verdict was announced in a Manhattan courtroom after a trial that began on April 15. Trump had pleaded not guilty to all charges, which stemmed from a hush money payment made by his former lawyer Michael Cohen to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the final weeks of the 2016 presidential election. Trump was convicted of falsifying business records to reimburse Cohen for a $130,000 payment to Daniels, aimed at silencing her allegations of a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006.
Trump looked down with his eyes narrowed as the jury foreperson read the word “guilty” to each count. The 12-member jury deliberated for over 11 hours across two days before reaching a unanimous conclusion. Trump is now the first former president to be convicted of criminal charges in U.S. history and will be sentenced on July 11, shortly before the Republican National Convention, where he is expected to receive the party’s formal nomination.
Outside the courtroom, Trump branded the result a “disgrace” and “rigged,” vowing that the “real verdict” would come from voters in the November 5 presidential election. His attorney, Todd Blanche, made a motion for acquittal after the jury left the room, which the judge denied. Trump was released without bail and is all but certain to appeal.
The historic conviction thrusts the United States into uncharted political territory but does not bar Trump from continuing his White House run. Legal experts suggest that, as a first-time offender, he is unlikely to face prison time, though he could theoretically receive up to four years for each count.
Judge Juan Merchan thanked the jurors for their service in the weeks-long trial, noting the “difficult and stressful task” they had undertaken. Their identities had been kept secret throughout the proceedings, a measure more commonly seen in cases involving violent defendants.
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass told the jury in his closing arguments, “The law is the law, and it applies to everyone equally. There is no special standard for this defendant.” He added, “You, the jury, have the ability to hold the defendant accountable.”
Trump’s defense attorneys argued that “trying to influence an election” was simply “democracy” and that the former president did nothing wrong. They emphasized that Trump denied ever having sex with Daniels at a 2006 celebrity golf tournament and chose not to testify during the trial.
The trial featured lengthy testimony from Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford. She described in graphic detail what she claims was a sexual encounter with Trump. Prosecutors successfully argued that the hush money and the subsequent cover-up were part of a broader scheme to prevent voters from knowing about Trump’s behavior.
The Biden campaign issued a statement following the verdict, asserting that the trial showed “no one is above the law” and warning that “the threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater.”
Trump’s legal challenges are far from over. He also faces federal and state charges related to attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election and the hoarding of secret documents after leaving the White House. Should he win the presidency, he would not be able to pardon himself in this case, as it was brought by the state of New York, where only the governor could grant a pardon.
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