Donald Trump has been found guilty in a historic criminal trial, making him a convicted felon. On May 30, a Manhattan jury delivered a guilty verdict on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Trump, who has spent the last six weeks in a Manhattan courtroom, was visibly serious as the verdict was read.
The jury, composed of seven men and five women, deliberated for two days before reaching their unanimous decision. Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over the trial, instructed the courtroom to maintain decorum as the verdict was delivered. Initially, many expected a hung jury, which would have resulted in a mistrial, leaving Trump’s charges unresolved. However, the unanimous guilty verdict rejected Trump’s claims of a baseless case and brought a potential prison sentence of up to four years. As a first-time offender of a non-violent crime, Trump might face probation and fines instead.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office accused Trump of falsifying financial records to hide a $130,000 hush money payment made to Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign. The DA argued that this action aimed to conceal an illegal conspiracy to influence the election, elevating the charges to felonies. Prosecutors presented strong evidence, but proving Trump’s direct involvement and intent relied heavily on witness testimonies, including that of Michael Cohen, Trump’s former attorney. The defense attempted to discredit Cohen’s reliability.
This case, known colloquially as Trump’s “hush money” trial, extends beyond typical white-collar crime. It is the first of four criminal cases against Trump, three of which involve election interference. The trial presented evidence that Trump conspired to manipulate the 2016 election by suppressing damaging information.
Trump’s sentencing is scheduled for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention. He is expected to appeal the conviction. Meanwhile, the remaining three criminal cases against him face delays and are unlikely to be resolved before the upcoming November election.
