In a historic and unprecedented legal turn, Donald Trump, the first former president to face felony charges, has been convicted on all counts by a New York jury.
1. **Historic Conviction:** Former President Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records, making him the first former president in U.S. history to be convicted of a crime. Each count carries a maximum prison sentence of four years, totaling a potential 136 years in prison.
2. **Sentencing and Appeals:** Sentencing is set for July 11, just before the Republican National Convention where Trump is expected to be nominated as the 2024 presidential candidate. Despite the conviction, Trump plans to appeal and is not barred from running for president.
3. **Trump's Reaction:** Trump vehemently denied any wrongdoing, calling the trial rigged and the judge conflicted. He asserted his innocence and framed the conviction as part of a politically motivated attack, vowing to continue fighting for his country and the Constitution.
President Donald Trump was found guilty on all counts in his historic criminal trial, making him the first former president of the United States to be convicted of a crime. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. Trump pleaded not guilty to all counts, but jurors found him guilty after two days of deliberations. Each count carries a maximum prison sentence of four years, amounting to a potential total sentence of 136 years.
Judge Juan Merchan invited the jury into the courtroom to read its verdict. Sentencing is scheduled for July 11 at 10:00 a.m., just four days before the start of the Republican National Convention, where Trump is expected to be formally nominated as the 2024 Republican presidential nominee. Any motions must be filed by June 13.
Despite the conviction, Trump is not barred from running for president. Prosecutors needed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump falsified business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, a pornographic performer, in the lead-up to the 2016 election to silence her about an alleged affair with Trump in 2006.
After the verdict was delivered, Trump addressed reporters in the hallway outside the courtroom. "This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt," Trump said. "We were at five percent or 6% in this district. This was a rigged, disgraceful trial."
He added, "The real verdict is going to be November 5th by the people. And they know what happened here. You have a Soros-backed DA and the whole thing. We didn't do anything wrong. I'm a very innocent man. And it's okay. I'm fighting for our country. I'm fighting for our Constitution. Our whole country is being rigged right now."
Trump continued, "I think it's just a disgrace. We'll keep fighting—we'll fight till the end and we'll win because our country's gone to hell. We don't have the same country anymore. We have a divided mess. We're a nation of serious decline."
He also claimed, "Millions and millions of people are pouring into our country right now from prisons, mental institutions, and terrorists. They're taking over our country. We have a country that's in big trouble."
Trump concluded, "This was a rigged decision right from day one, with a conflicted judge who should have never been allowed to try this case. And we will fight for our Constitution. This is long from over."
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