A Manhattan jury has found former President Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, primarily related to a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels by his former attorney, Michael Cohen, during the 2016 presidential campaign. This marks the first time in U.S. history that a former president has been convicted of a crime.
Trump, who faces sentencing on July 11, is contesting these charges amidst his bid for the presidency in the upcoming November election against incumbent President Joe Biden.
During the trial, Trump remained composed as the jury foreman pronounced “guilty” for each count. His son, Eric Trump, displayed visible anger. Speaking after the verdict, Trump denounced the trial as unfair and politically motivated, declaring, “This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt. The real verdict is going to be on November 5 by the people.”
The jury reached their decision after less than 10 hours of deliberation over two days, culminating in a note to Judge Juan Merchan indicating their verdict. The announcement caught many off guard, as it was expected that the jury would be dismissed for the day.
Following the verdict, Judge Merchan praised the jury for their dedication and hard work. “That’s a long time to be away from your job, your families, your other responsibilities,” he remarked.
The charges against Trump stem from a $130,000 payment made by Cohen to Daniels to silence her about an alleged affair with Trump in 2006, aiming to prevent the story from impacting his 2016 presidential campaign. Cohen testified that he was directed by Trump to make the payment and was later reimbursed by Trump and the Trump Organization.
In addition to this case, Trump faces three other pending criminal cases. Two involve his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, with one case in federal court in Washington, D.C., and another in Georgia state court in Atlanta. The third case, in federal court in Florida, concerns his retention of classified government documents after leaving office in January 2021 and attempts to obstruct their recovery by federal officials.
Trump also faces significant civil liabilities. A Manhattan Supreme Court has ordered him to pay over $450 million in damages for business fraud involving the Trump Organization. Additionally, two federal juries awarded nearly $90 million in damages to writer E. Jean Carroll, who testified that Trump raped her in the mid-1990s. Trump is appealing these civil verdicts.
With his sentencing set just days before the Republican National Convention, where he is expected to be confirmed as the GOP’s presidential nominee, Trump’s legal battles cast a significant shadow over his political future.
