In a landmark decision, former President Donald Trump has been convicted on all counts in his unprecedented criminal trial, making him the first former U.S. president to face such a verdict.
The charges, brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, include 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. Trump entered a plea of not guilty to all the charges.
The jury returned a guilty verdict on each count. Each charge carries a potential sentence of up to 4 years in prison, which could result in a cumulative sentence of up to 136 years.
Judge Juan Merchan convened the jury to deliver their verdict after two days of deliberation. Sentencing is scheduled for July 11 at 10:00 a.m., just days before the Republican National Convention, where Trump is expected to be formally nominated as the Republican candidate for the 2024 presidential election. The convention is set for July 15-18 in Milwaukee. Any motions related to the case must be filed by June 13.
Despite the conviction, Trump remains eligible to run for president. The prosecution’s case hinged on proving beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump falsified records to hide a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election, aimed at silencing her about an alleged affair.
After the verdict, Trump addressed the media, calling the trial unfair. “This was a disgraceful, rigged trial by a biased judge,” Trump stated. “We were denied a venue change, despite significant bias in this district. The real verdict will come on November 5th, from the American people.”
Trump accused the case of being politically motivated, claiming it was orchestrated by the Biden administration to undermine him as a political rival. “This is an attack on our country and our Constitution. We will continue to fight,” he asserted.
During closing arguments, Trump’s defense team insisted on his innocence and argued that the prosecution had not met the burden of proof. Defense attorney Blanche emphasized that the case was straightforward and focused on business records, not on any alleged encounter with Daniels or a nondisclosure agreement.
Blanche contended that the records were accurate and that there was no intent to defraud or conspire to influence the 2016 election. He urged the jury to disregard the testimony of Michael Cohen, Trump’s former attorney, who admitted to lying in various legal settings.
On the other hand, Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass argued that Trump’s intent to deceive was clear. He suggested that Trump could have paid Daniels directly but instead devised a complex scheme to conceal the payment, ultimately benefiting himself.
Steinglass defended the use of Cohen as a witness, noting that Cohen’s knowledge of the Trump Organization was crucial. He acknowledged Cohen’s past dishonesty but maintained that his testimony was essential in revealing Trump’s misconduct.
Throughout the trial, Trump’s defense team sought to have the case dismissed, particularly following Cohen’s testimony. Cohen claimed he made the payment to Daniels at Trump’s direction to avoid negative press before the election and was reimbursed $420,000, with the payments falsely described as a retainer.
Despite the defense’s efforts, the jury found Trump guilty on all charges. This historic conviction marks a significant moment in American legal and political history.