By In an unprecedented and historic verdict, former President Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony counts in his criminal trial, marking the first time a former U.S. president has been convicted of a crime. The Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, charged Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges.
After two days of deliberations, the jury delivered a unanimous verdict, finding Trump guilty on all counts. Each count carries a maximum prison sentence of four years, potentially totaling 136 years. Judge Juan Merchan read the verdict in the courtroom and scheduled sentencing for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention where Trump is expected to be formally nominated as the 2024 Republican presidential candidate.
Despite the conviction, Trump is still eligible to run for president. The prosecution needed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump falsified business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to pornographic performer Stormy Daniels in the lead-up to the 2016 election to silence her about an alleged affair with Trump in 2006.
Moments after the verdict was delivered, Trump addressed reporters outside the courtroom, calling the trial “a disgrace” and “rigged.” He criticized the judge and the district attorney, claiming the trial was influenced by political bias. “This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt,” Trump stated. “The real verdict is going to be November 5th by the people.”
Trump continued to assert his innocence and accused the Biden administration of orchestrating the trial to damage his political career. “We didn’t do anything wrong. I’m a very innocent man,” Trump declared. “I’m fighting for our country. I’m fighting for our Constitution. Our whole country is being rigged right now.”
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg held a press conference, thanking the jury for their diligence and commitment. “We should all be thankful for the careful attention that this jury paid to the evidence and the law,” Bragg said. He emphasized that the jurors reviewed extensive evidence, including testimony from 22 witnesses, call logs, text messages, emails, recordings, checks, invoices, bank statements, and calendar appointments.
Bragg defended his actions, stating, “I did my job. Our job is to follow the facts and the law without fear or favor.” He added that the jury’s unanimous conclusion was based on the evidence presented, finding Trump guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a scheme to influence the 2016 election.
Following the verdict, Trump’s campaign website was updated to describe him as a “political prisoner.” The Biden campaign responded, stating that Trump has always believed he would avoid consequences for his actions. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box,” Biden campaign spokesman Michael Tyler said.
Former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, the prosecution’s key witness, celebrated the verdict. “Today is an important day for accountability and the rule of law,” Cohen said in a statement. He also posted on social media, writing, “Guilty On All Counts! #TeamCohen.”
During closing arguments, Trump’s defense attorneys argued that he was innocent and that the district attorney failed to meet the burden of proof. They contended that the case was about documents and not about an encounter with Stormy Daniels. They claimed the records were accurate and that there was no intent to defraud.
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass, in his closing argument, stated that Trump’s intent to defraud was clear and that he devised an elaborate scheme to hide the payment to Daniels. “The name of the game was concealment, and all roads lead inescapably to the man who benefited the most: the defendant, former President Donald Trump,” Steinglass said.
The jury reached their verdict at 4:20 p.m., and the guilty counts were read shortly after 5 p.m. Trump’s fellow Republicans quickly condemned the verdict. “Today is a shameful day in American history,” said House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson in a statement.
Source: Foxnews.com
