A New York jury found Donald Trump guilty on all charges in his US hush money case. Trump is now the first former US president to be convicted of a crime. This sentence is already in active voice. Trump was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records. This is to conceal a payment made to silence adult film star Stormy Daniels. While each count could theoretically result in a four-year prison sentence, probation is more likely.
Released without bail, the 77-year-old Republican now holds the unprecedented status of being a felon among US presidents. Despite his conviction, Trump can still campaign against President Joe Biden in the upcoming election, even if he goes to prison. Trump responded defiantly, insisting on his innocence and criticizing the trial as “rigged” and “a disgrace,” promising that the voters would deliver the “real verdict.”
Biden’s campaign
Biden’s campaign issued a statement emphasizing that the trial demonstrated no one is above the law and highlighted the heightened threat Trump poses to democracy.
The jury, consisting of 12 members, deliberated for over 11 hours across two days before delivering a unanimous verdict. Judge Merchan praised the jury for their diligent work, noting the challenges they faced.
In addition to this conviction, Trump faces other legal challenges, including federal and state charges related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and the retention of classified documents post-presidency. These cases are unlikely to proceed before the presidential election.
Trump’s conviction stemmed from his efforts to reimburse his lawyer, Michael Cohen, for a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 election, intended to suppress her allegations of a 2006 sexual encounter with Trump. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, testified in detail about the alleged encounter. Prosecutors argued successfully that the hush money and its concealment were part of a broader scheme to mislead voters about Trump’s conduct.
Cohen, a key witness who had turned against Donald Trump , hailed the verdict as a significant moment for accountability and the rule of law. Trump, who denies the alleged sexual encounter with Daniels, did not testify in his defense. His lawyers maintained that the payments to Daniels were legal.
