Donald Trump Found Guilty: A New York jury found him guilty of falsifying documents to cover up a payment intended to silence porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election.
After two days of deliberation, the 12-member jury found Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts.
Trump remained impassive as the jury’s unanimous verdict was confirmed.
Judge Juan Merchan set the sentencing date for July 11, just days before the Republican Party is set to formally nominate Trump for president for the November 5 election.
The crime of falsifying business documents carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison. However, those convicted often receive shorter sentences, fines, or probation. Even if incarcerated, Trump would not be legally prevented from campaigning or taking office if elected.
“The real verdict is going to be on November 5 by the people,” Trump said. Trump gave a thumbs-up through the tinted window of his SUV as his motorcade left the courthouse. Supporters, journalists, police, and onlookers gathered in a park opposite the courthouse.
Polls show Trump and Biden, 81, are in a tight race, and Reuters/Ipsos polling suggests a guilty verdict could cost Trump some support among independent and Republican voters.
This case is widely considered the least significant of the four criminal prosecutions Trump faces, but its verdict is crucial as it may be the only one concluded before the election due to delays in the other cases.
The jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records after a five-week trial that included explicit testimony from Stormy Daniels about a 2006 sexual encounter she claims to have had with Trump while he was married. Trump denies the encounter.
Michael Cohen, Trump’s former fixer, testified that Trump authorized a $130,000 payment to Daniels during the final weeks of the 2016 campaign, when Trump faced multiple accusations of sexual misconduct.
Cohen testified that he handled the payment and that Trump approved a plan to reimburse him through monthly payments disguised as legal fees.
Trump’s lawyers attacked Cohen’s credibility, pointing out his criminal record and history of lying. Judge Merchan also advised the jurors to scrutinize Cohen’s testimony closely.
The relatively short time the jury took to reach a verdict indicates they believed there was sufficient evidence to support Cohen’s testimony, said George Grasso, a retired New York judge who attended the trial.
A source familiar with Trump’s campaign suggested the verdict might prompt him to consider picking a woman as his vice-presidential running mate. His campaign website labeled him a “political prisoner” and solicited donations.
Biden Campaign: No One Above the Law
Biden’s campaign stated that the verdict demonstrated that no one is above the law and urged voters to reject Trump in the election.
“There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box,” the campaign said.
The White House declined to comment.
Republicans quickly condemned the verdict. House Speaker Mike Johnson called it “a shameful day in American history.”
The jury notified the court of their decision at 4:20 p.m. (2020 GMT), and the foreperson read out all 34 guilty counts shortly after 5 p.m. Trump lawyer Todd Blanche requested Judge Merchan to dismiss the guilty verdict, arguing it was based on Cohen’s unreliable testimony. Merchan denied the request.
Trump is expected to appeal, focusing on Daniels’ explicit testimony and the novel legal theory used by prosecutors. However, legal experts believe he faces long odds.
“We are going to appeal as quickly as we can. We will seek expedited review of this case,” Trump attorney Will Scharf told Fox News.
In New York, falsifying business documents is usually a misdemeanor, but Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office elevated it to a felony on the grounds that Trump was concealing an illegal campaign contribution.
Prosecutors had to prove Trump’s guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt,” the standard under U.S. law.
“We did our job. The only voice that matters is the voice of the jury, and the jury has spoken,” Bragg said. Jurors heard testimony of sex and lies that have been public since 2018, although the charges themselves rested on ledger accounts and other records of Cohen’s reimbursement.
Dubbed the “zombie case,” it was revived by Bragg after his predecessor decided not to pursue charges.
If elected, Trump could potentially shut down the two federal cases accusing him of trying to overturn his 2020 election loss and mishandling classified documents after leaving office in 2021. However, he would not have the power to stop a separate election-subversion case in Georgia.
Trump has pleaded not guilty in all the cases and portrays his legal troubles as politically motivated efforts by Biden’s Democratic allies to harm him.
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