In a historic feat, a New York jury has found former President Donald Trump guilty of all 34 felony charges of falsifying business records.
The verdict marks the first time a former or serving U.S. president has been found guilty of a crime. The charges against Trump are related to a $130,000 payment made by his then-personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, to Stormy Daniels during Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.
Cohen testified that he paid Daniels to prevent her from publicizing her alleged sexual encounter with Trump in 2006, which could have damaged his 2016 presidential campaign. Cohen stated that Trump directed him to make the payment, saying, “This is a disaster, a total disaster. Women are going to hate me. This is really a disaster. Women will hate me. Guys, they think it’s cool. But this is going to be a disaster for the campaign.”
The trial lasted six weeks, during which 22 witnesses, including Stormy Daniels and Michael Cohen, testified. The jury deliberated for less than 10 hours over two days before reaching a unanimous verdict on May 30, 2024.
During the reading of the verdict at approximately 5:05 p.m., Trump remained stoic, while his son Eric Trump appeared visibly angry.
Trump, aged 77, faces sentencing on July 11 at 10 a.m. ET, presided over by Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan. The former president could face a maximum punishment of four years in prison for each count, although legal experts suggest that a fine is more likely. Judge Merchan, while not bound to sentence Trump to prison time, will determine the final sentence. Trump’s lawyers, however, said they will appeal the verdict.
After the verdict, Trump emailed his supporters, stating that the trial was a “disgrace” and criticized Judge Merchan, calling him “a conflicted judge who was corrupt.” Trump declared, “I am a very innocent man,” and added, “This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt.” He further stated, “The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people, and they know what happened here, and everybody knows what happened here.”
However, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr., whose office prosecuted Trump, praised the jury, referring to them as “12 everyday New Yorkers.” Bragg stated, “While this defendant may be unlike any other in American history, we arrived at this trial, and ultimately today at this verdict, in the same manner as every other case that comes.”
Judge Merchan expressed gratitude towards the jurors, saying, “I want to thank you very much for your service. That’s a long time to be away from your job, your families, your other responsibilities. I want you to know that I really admire your dedication, your hard work.”
The conviction occurs as Trump campaigns for the 2024 presidential election against President Joe Biden. Despite the convictions, Trump remains eligible to run for president. President Biden’s campaign stated, through spokesman Michael Tyler: “The threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater. In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law. Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain. But today’s verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president.”
This is not the only criminal case against Trump. He faces three other criminal cases, including efforts to overturn his loss in the 2020 election, with charges in federal court in Washington, D.C., and Georgia state court in Atlanta. He is also charged in federal court in Florida related to his retention of classified government records after leaving the White House in January 2021.
As the United States prepares for the Republican National Convention on July 15, where Trump is expected to be formally nominated as the GOP presidential candidate, the implications of this historic conviction will undoubtedly shape the political landscape leading up to the November 5 election.
