Trump Becomes First Former US President Convicted of a Crime
New York: Donald Trump has made history as the first former US president to be convicted of a crime. A New York jury found him guilty on all charges in his hush money case, just months before an election that could potentially see his return to the White House.
The jury convicted Trump on all 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a payment intended to silence porn star Stormy Daniels. Though he theoretically faces up to four years in prison for each count, he is more likely to receive probation.
Released without bail, the 77-year-old Republican is now a felon—a shocking first in a country where presidents are often considered the most powerful individuals. Despite his conviction, Trump is not barred from running against President Joe Biden in November—even if he ends up in prison. He quickly expressed defiance.
“I’m a very innocent man,” Trump told reporters, vowing that the “real verdict” would come from voters. He labeled the trial “rigged” and a “disgrace.”
Biden’s campaign stated the trial proved “no one is above the law” and warned that “the threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater.”
Judge Juan Merchan scheduled sentencing for July 11, just four days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where Trump is expected to receive the party’s formal nomination.
The 12-member jury deliberated for over 11 hours across two days before delivering their unanimous verdict in minutes. Merchan thanked the jurors for their “difficult and stressful task.” Their identities remained secret throughout the trial, a rare measure typically reserved for cases involving violent defendants.
Trump also faces federal and state charges related to conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results and for hoarding secret documents after leaving the White House. However, these trials are unlikely to start before the presidential election.
Election Conspiracy
Trump was convicted of falsifying business records to reimburse his lawyer, Michael Cohen, for a $130,000 payment to Daniels just before the 2016 election. Daniels’ claim of having sex with Trump could have damaged his campaign against Hillary Clinton.
The trial included lengthy testimony from Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, detailing a 2006 sexual encounter with Trump. Prosecutors argued the hush money payment and its illegal cover-up aimed to prevent voters from learning about Trump’s behavior.
Cohen, the key witness and a former aide turned against Trump, called the verdict “an important day for accountability and the rule of law.”
Trump denied any sexual encounter with Daniels and did not testify in his defense. His lawyers argued that any payments made to her were entirely legal.
Campaigning from the Courthouse
The trial has distracted Trump from his campaign to unseat Biden. Nonetheless, he capitalized on the media attention.
Shortly after the verdict, Trump’s campaign issued a fundraising appeal titled “I am a political prisoner!” He also announced plans to address journalists early Friday.
Keith Gaddie, a political analyst and professor at Texas Christian University, suggested the political impact remains uncertain. “It probably doesn’t move a lot of votes, but in particular states with swing votes, it could matter around the margins. In tight races, it can tip things one way or the other,” he said.
Trump, a former real estate mogul who made a surprising ascent to the presidency in 2016, will likely face probation as a first-time convict. An appeal is inevitable but could take months to resolve.
