On Thursday, Donald Trump became the first U.S. president to be convicted of a crime when a New York jury found him guilty of falsifying documents to cover up a payment to silence porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.
The jury, after two days of deliberation, found Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts. Trump remained impassive as the jurors confirmed their unanimous verdict.
Justice Juan Merchan scheduled sentencing for July 11, just before the Republican Party is set to nominate Trump for the presidency ahead of the November 5 election.
The crime carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison, although those convicted often receive shorter sentences, fines, or probation. Trump will not be jailed before sentencing, and incarceration would not prevent him from campaigning or taking office if he wins.
The verdict places the United States in unprecedented territory ahead of the upcoming election, where Trump aims to reclaim the White House from Democratic President Joe Biden.
Trump, 77, has denied any wrongdoing and plans to appeal the conviction swiftly. "This was a disgrace," Trump told reporters, claiming innocence and arguing the trial was biased against him. He stated the true verdict would be decided by the voters on November 5.
As his motorcade left the courthouse, Trump gave a thumbs-up sign to his supporters, who had gathered along with journalists and police.
Polls indicate a tight race between Trump and Biden, 81, with Reuters/Ipsos finding that a guilty verdict could affect Trump’s support among independent and Republican voters. This case, considered the least significant among the four criminal prosecutions Trump faces, is likely to be the only one concluded before the election due to procedural delays in the other cases.
The jury's guilty verdict followed a five-week trial featuring explicit testimony from Daniels about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump in 2006, which Trump denies. Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer, testified that Trump approved a $130,000 hush payment to Daniels during the 2016 election and reimbursed Cohen through payments falsely labeled as legal fees. Trump's legal team attacked Cohen's credibility, but the jury found enough evidence to support his testimony.
A source close to Trump’s campaign said the verdict might lead him to consider a female vice-presidential candidate. His campaign website described him as a "political prisoner" and solicited donations. Biden’s campaign responded, stating the verdict showed no one is above the law and urged voters to reject Trump.The White House did not comment.
Republicans quickly condemned the verdict, with House Speaker Mike Johnson calling it a shameful day in American history. After the jury announced their verdict at 4:20 p.m., Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, unsuccessfully asked the judge to dismiss the verdict based on Cohen’s reliability.
Trump's appeal is expected to challenge Daniels' testimony and the prosecutors' legal theory, although experts suggest the chances of success are slim. Prosecutors in Manhattan elevated the falsifying documents charge to a felony, arguing it concealed an illegal campaign contribution. They had to prove Trump's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office resurrected the case, stated the jury’s voice was the only one that mattered. If re-elected, Trump could potentially end two federal cases against him but not a separate case in Georgia. Trump, who has pleaded not guilty in all cases, claims his legal troubles are politically motivated by Biden’s allies.