The jury in New York on Thursday found former President Trump guilty of all 34 counts of falsifying business records. These charges stem from his former personal lawyer’s payment of hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election.
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First Conviction of a US President
Sentencing Date Key to Republican Convention
Hush Money Case
Trump Claims Innocence
Biden Campaign: Trump is a Threat to Democracy
Sentencing Could Impact Election
77-year-old Trump becomes the first convicted president in American history and still faces three other pending criminal cases. In addition to the criminal convictions, Trump also faces a $45 million civil judgment for business fraud in Manhattan Supreme Court. He is also appealing two civil defamation judgments, which total nearly $90 million in damages, for allegations of rape against Trump in the mid-1990s.
The judge at the Manhattan Supreme Court has set Trump’s sentencing date for 10:00 a.m. on July 11th, just a few days before the Republican National Convention, where Trump is expected to be confirmed as the party’s presidential candidate.
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Although each charge carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison, Trump’s legal team has indicated plans to appeal.
These charges involve Trump and the Trump Organization falsifying business records to conceal payments made to his personal lawyer, who had given adult film star Stormy Daniels $130,000 in exchange for her silence about her extramarital affair with Trump in 2006. Both parties have confirmed that the payment was intended to prevent the story from affecting Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.
Trump remained unchanged in his demeanor during the reading of the verdict. His son displayed obvious anger when the jury announced each “guilty” verdict. After the verdict, Trump claimed his innocence and called the trial a “disgrace,” accusing the judge of corruption.
President Biden’s campaign team quickly responded, stating that Trump’s conviction highlights his threat to democracy. A campaign spokesperson said the only way to prevent Trump from returning to the White House is through the ballot.
The Manhattan District Attorney, who prosecuted the case, praised the jury’s dedication. He noted that despite involving a former president, the trial proceeded like any other case, with the jury reviewing extensive evidence and hearing testimony from 22 witnesses.
If Trump is not incarcerated this fall, he will still retain his right to vote. With the legal battles continuing, these events have significant implications for his political future and the Republican Party.
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