A landmark verdict was reached on Thursday as a Manhattan jury convicted former President Donald Trump on all counts in his hush money case. This decision has the potential to significantly impact the upcoming 2024 presidential election.
In the 2016 election, Trump was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records. These records were manipulated to hide hush money payments made to an adult film actress, which were wrongly presented as legal expenses.
Falsifying business records in the first degree is considered a serious offense under New York state law. Those found guilty of this crime can face severe consequences, including a maximum prison sentence of up to four years.
Judge Juan Merchan has scheduled the sentencing for 10 a.m. on July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. The convention is set to take place from July 15-18, during which time it is expected that Trump will be chosen as the party’s nominee for president.
The 2024 rematch between Trump and President Joe Biden could be affected by a jail or prison sentence.
In response to the verdict, Trump maintained a defiant stance, asserting that it would ultimately be the voters who would determine his guilt or innocence in the upcoming November elections.
“This trial was an absolute disgrace. It was clearly rigged, with a biased judge who was corrupt,” Trump expressed. “Despite our request for a change of venue, we were forced to face a trial in an area where we had minimal support, around 5% or 6%. It’s obvious to everyone what happened here. We didn’t commit any wrongdoing. I am a completely innocent man. But that’s alright. I will continue to fight for our country and defend our Constitution.” Trump firmly believed that the case was brought against him by Biden, his political rival.
“Our entire nation is currently being manipulated,” Biden expressed with conviction. “The Biden administration is solely responsible for this. It is truly disgraceful. Our country has deteriorated significantly. We are experiencing a severe decline as a nation. From the very beginning, this decision has been manipulated.”
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has brought forward 34 charges against Trump for falsifying business records. These records are connected to payments made to silence an adult actress who allegedly had an affair with Trump before the 2016 election. Bragg claims that Trump violated New York law by intentionally falsifying business records in order to commit or hide another crime.
According to prosecutors, Trump is accused of manipulating the internal records of his company to conceal the actual purpose of payments made to adult actress Stormy Daniels ($130,000), former Playboy model Karen McDougal ($150,000), and his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen ($420,000). Prosecutors claim that these payments were falsely categorized as legal expenses instead of reimbursements.
Both Daniels and Cohen took the stand and provided testimony during the trial.
In her testimony, Daniels provided a detailed account of her alleged sexual encounter with Trump in 2006, stating that she “blacked out” during the incident. She further disclosed that Trump did not wear a condom. The defense team raised objections, claiming that this testimony was prejudicial and requested a mistrial. However, Judge Merchan denied their request, allowing the trial to proceed.
The case revolves around Cohen’s payment of $130,000 to Daniels prior to the 2016 election.
In 2018, Cohen admitted guilt for breaking campaign finance laws regarding the payment. Cohen, who has been convicted of perjury, also confessed to other offenses, including tax evasion. He received a three-year prison sentence for tax evasion, providing false information to a bank that is federally insured, and the campaign finance violations that occurred in 2018.
In 2006, during his marriage to Melania Trump, Trump has consistently denied engaging in any sexual activity with Daniels.
During the four weeks of testimony, prosecutors presented a total of 20 witnesses to testify before the jury of 12, along with six alternates.
During the testimony, Cohen revealed that Trump was aware of the hush money payment. Additionally, Cohen admitted to embezzling a substantial amount of money from Trump during his time as the former president’s attorney. Cohen confessed that he diverted the funds, which were intended for payment to another company on Trump’s behalf, because his annual bonus had been cut. It became evident that Cohen’s motivation for his actions stemmed from a desire for retribution against Trump after their relationship deteriorated.
During the trial, Trump’s defense team presented two witnesses who aimed to challenge Cohen’s testimony. One of these witnesses was Robert Costello, a defense attorney whom Michael Cohen had consulted in 2018 while facing a federal investigation. Costello contradicted Cohen’s claim that Trump was aware of the $130,000 payment made to Stormy Daniels, an adult actress, for her silence.
Merchan fined Trump multiple times during the trial for his comments and activity on social media outside the courtroom. Trump was ordered to pay a total of $10,000 for violating the gag order.
The current status quo is that the gag order is still in effect. It prohibits Trump, who served as the 45th president of the United States, from making any public statements about the jurors, witnesses, attorneys, court staff, district attorney staff, and the family members of the staff.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, 77, has become the first ex-president in history to face felony charges. However, he chose not to testify in his defense during the trial.
In late March, when asked about the potential impact of a conviction on his chances of returning to the White House, Trump confidently expressed that he was not concerned.
“It could also increase my popularity since people are aware that it’s a scam,” he stated. “It’s a trial against Biden, but there’s no actual trial, just a trial focused on Biden.”
No matter what occurs, the U.S. Secret Service will ensure Trump’s protection.
Despite facing conviction and a potential jail sentence, Trump remains undeterred in his pursuit to regain the presidency.
According to Richard Hasen, a professor of law and political science at the University of California, Los Angeles, the Constitution does not prohibit felons from holding the position of President.
According to Hasen, it is not possible for Trump to grant himself a pardon for any state charges.