Former President Donald Trump suffered a defeat in the courtroom on Thursday. However, both Trump and his opponent, President Joe Biden, are now shifting their focus towards the upcoming November election.
Former President Trump has been convicted by a jury on 34 counts of falsifying business records in an attempt to conceal hush money payments made to an adult actress prior to the 2016 election. This historic conviction marks the first time a former president has been found guilty of a crime, and it has the potential to significantly impact future presidential elections.
After being found guilty, Trump stated that his focus was on the upcoming election.
“The ultimate decision will be made by the people on November 5th,” Trump stated confidently, as he exited the Manhattan courtroom.
The White House chose not to comment on the verdict, but Biden’s campaign emphasized that the true battle lies ahead in November.
According to a campaign spokesperson, the only way to prevent Donald Trump from becoming the President is through the ballot box. The spokesperson stated, “Regardless of his conviction status, Trump will still be chosen as the Republican nominee for the presidency.”
The criminal trial of Trump came to a close on Thursday, but the legal process is far from over. Judge Juan Merchan has set a date of July 11 for the sentencing hearing.
Defense attorneys and prosecutors will submit their sentencing recommendations to the judge before the hearing.
Falsifying business records in the first degree is considered a serious offense under New York state law. This act is categorized as a Class E felony, which carries a maximum prison sentence of four years.
At 77 years old, Trump is facing legal charges for the first time. However, this does not mean that he is exempt from the possibility of being sentenced to jail or prison.
The conviction will not hinder Trump’s ability to campaign for president.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who ran his campaign on focusing on Trump, did not disclose the specifics when asked about the recommended sentence by prosecutors. He mentioned that these details would be included in upcoming court filings.
Trump plans to appeal the verdict and may request a delay in any sentence while the appeal process is ongoing.