Jury on Thursday convicted Donald Trump on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, marking the first time a former U.S. president has been found guilty of a crime.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention.
Trump faces penalties ranging from a fine to four years in prison for each count, though sentences are expected to be served concurrently.
"This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt,” Trump told reporters.
The verdict was announced in a Manhattan courtroom where Trump has been on trial since April 15. He had pleaded not guilty to charges related to a hush money payment made by his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election.
Trump appeared visibly upset as the jury foreperson read the guilty verdict for each count.
Judge Juan Merchan thanked the jurors for their service, saying,
“You gave this matter the attention it deserved, and I want to thank you for that.” Trump seemed to scowl as the jurors left the courtroom.
After the jury left, Trump's attorney, Todd Blanche, motioned for acquittal, which the judge denied.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg declined to comment on the potential sentence, stating his office would address it in court papers. "While this defendant may be unlike any other in American history, we arrived at this trial and ultimately today at this verdict in the same manner as every other case... by following the facts and the law, without fear or favor," Bragg said.
He added, "I did my job. We did our job," despite receiving threats from Trump supporters during the investigation.
Trump, who remains the presumptive Republican nominee for president, began fundraising immediately after the verdict, claiming on his website that he is "a political prisoner" and soliciting donations.
Legal experts suggested that even if Trump is sentenced to prison, he might remain out of jail while appealing the verdict, a process that could take months, ensuring it would not interfere with his ability to accept the Republican nomination.
There are no constitutional barriers preventing Trump from being elected despite his conviction, according to Chuck Rosenberg, a former U.S. attorney and legal analyst.
President Joe Biden's campaign welcomed the verdict, emphasizing that Trump must be defeated at the ballot box in November. “In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law," said campaign communications director Michael Tyler.
In his closing argument, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass told the jury,
“The law is the law, and it applies to everyone equally. There is no special standard for this defendant.”
Trump's defense maintained there was no crime. "President Trump is innocent. He did not commit any crimes," Blanche argued, stating the payments to Cohen were legitimate.
Prosecutors alleged that the payment to Cohen was part of a broader conspiracy to influence the 2016 election and that Trump had used falsified corporate records to conceal the payments.
While Trump was not charged with conspiracy, prosecutors argued that he falsified business records to cover up a violation of state election law, elevating the offense to a felony.
The trial featured testimony from Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels, among others. Trump did not testify, despite earlier claims that he would. The defense's main witness, Robert Costello, testified that Cohen had acted independently, but his testimony was marred by courtroom disruptions.
Cohen testified that Trump directly authorized the payment and subsequent reimbursements, which were falsely categorized as legal expenses by the Trump Organization. This was supported by documentary evidence and witness testimony.
Prosecutors presented 20 witnesses, while the defense called just two.
Trump claimed the charges were politically motivated, but he used the trial to rally support from top Republicans.
Thanks For Visiting!!
Refrence: AFP, CNN ,REUTERS
Comments