Verdict makes Trump the 1st U.S. president convicted of a crime
Rhianna Schmunk – CBC News
Posted: May 30, 2024 Last Updated: May 30, 2024
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Former U.S. president Donald Trump remained defiant after being found guilty on all 34 counts in his hush-money trial in New York, saying the trial was ‘rigged’ and a ‘disgrace’ 1:46
Twelve jurors have found former U.S. president Donald Trump guilty on all counts in his hush-money trial in New York, making him the first American president to be convicted of a felony in the nation’s history.
The jury on Thursday convicted Trump of falsifying business records in connection with a hush-money payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the U.S. presidential election in 2016. Jurors made their decision after a tense five-week trial in Manhattan Criminal Court and two days of deliberations behind closed doors.
Trump, 77, sat expressionless as jurors were polled, one by one, to confirm the verdict was unanimous on all 34 felony counts. Minutes later, he emerged from the courthouse to speak to reporters.
“This was a rigged, disgraceful trial, and the real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people,” he said, referring to the upcoming U.S. presidential election this fall.
“We didn’t do a thing wrong. I’m an innocent man.”
A lawyer for Trump signalled that an appeal will be made as quickly as possible.
“We are going to appeal as quickly as we can. We will seek expedited review of this case,” Will Scharf, an attorney for Trump, told Fox News.
WATCH | ‘Without fear or favour’:
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Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg thanked the jurors and his staff — ‘for following the facts and the law, without fear or favour’ — in the wake of Donald Trump’s conviction on all 34 counts in his hush-money trial. 3:45
Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan District Attorney, thanked the jurors for their service and said prosecutors followed the facts and the law.
“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 that comes through the courtroom doors — by following the facts and the law, and doing so without fear or favour,” Bragg said in remarks after the verdict was announced.
Trump faces up to four years in prison, though the sentence for such crimes is usually far shorter, if not addressed with fines or probation. The conviction does not prevent him from campaigning for the presidency or taking office if he beats Democratic President Joe Biden.
Trump will not be jailed before sentencing. As his motorcade left the courthouse Thursday, he gave a thumbs-up through the tinted window of his SUV.
A member of the media looks at news of former U.S. president Donald Trump on his phone after the conclusion of Trump’s hush-money trial, in New York on May 30. (Michael M. Santiago/The Associated Press)
Appeal expected
The jurors emerged from their deliberations Thursday to announce they had reached a verdict at 4:20 p.m. ET, just minutes before they were expected to be excused for the day. After taking a few minutes to finish the forms, jurors were called back into the rigid courtroom at 5:03 p.m.
By 5:07 p.m., Trump had been convicted on all counts. His son, Eric, was the only one of his children in the courtroom.
Judge Juan Merchan asked lawyers for both sides whether they had any final comments after the jury left. Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, stood and tried one last time for an acquittal. When the judge denied that request, Blanche asked for a sentencing date in mid- to late July because Trump will be busy with other court dates in several other cases.
Sentencing was set for July 11 — four days before Republican nominating convention in Milwaukee.
An appeal from Trump could see his lawyers alleging bias and judicial errors, arguing Merchan sealed Trump’s fate by issuing unfair instructions to the jury. Appeals could take years to conclude.
In television interviews after the verdict, Trump lawyer Blanche said he believed the former president did not receive a fair trial and that the team would appeal based on the judge’s refusal to recuse himself and because of what he suggested was excessive pretrial publicity.
A supporter of Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump holds a banner on the day of his hush money criminal trial, in New York City, U.S., April 15, 2024.
Brendan McDermid/Reuters
Former President Donald Trump arrives at Manhattan criminal court with his legal team, Monday, April 15, 2024, in New York. The hush money trial of former President Donald Trump begins Monday with jury selection. It’s a singular moment for American history as the first criminal trial of a former U.S. commander in chief. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)
Stefan Jeremiah/The Associated Press
A demonstrator holds a placard on the day of Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump’s hush money criminal trial, in New York City, U.S., April 15, 2024.
Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
TOPSHOT – An anti-Trump protestors is approached by police outside of Manhattan Criminal Court as former US President Donald Trump attends his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments linked to extramarital affairs, in New York City on April 25, 2024. Trump is back in court to watch his alleged tabloid co-conspirator, former publisher of the National Enquirer, David Pecker, continue testimony about their bid to kill salacious stories that could have derailed the Republican’s 2016 White House campaign.
Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images
People march as they protest against former U.S. President Donald Trump during his hush money trial, near the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, U.S., April 25, 2024.
Eduardo Munoz/Reuters
Press waits to go into court, as former U.S. President Donald Trump talks to pool, outside Manhattan Criminal Court room, in NYC, U.S. May 2, 2024. Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records related to the hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. He has pleaded not guilty and denied a relationship with Daniels.
Mark Peterson/Reuters
Stormy Daniels leaves Manhattan Criminal Court after testifying at former US President Donald Trump’s trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments linked to extramarital affairs, in New York City, on May 9, 2024. X-rated film actress Daniels returned to the witness stand on Thursday at Trump’s hush money trial for another round of grilling by attorneys for the former president.
Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images
North Dakota Governor and former U.S. presidential candidate Doug Burgum speaks during a news conference with businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, U.S. Representatove Cory Mills (R-FL) and U.S. Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL), after attending the trial of former U.S. President Donald Trump for allegedly covering up hush money payments linked to extramarital affair with Stormy Daniels, at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, U.S., May 14, 2024.
Brendan McDermid/Reuters
Protesters release balloons with the faces of judges attached to them, outside Manhattan’s Criminal Court as the trial of former U.S. President Donald Trump for allegedly covering up hush money payments linked to extramarital affair with Stormy Daniels continues in New York City, U.S., May 16, 2024.
David (Dee) Delgado/Reuters
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 16: Michael Cohen, former U.S. President Donald Trump’s former attorney, arrives at Manhattan Criminal Court for Trump’s hush money trial on May 16, 2024 in New York City. Cohen, former U.S. President Donald Trump’s former attorney, will take the stand again today to continue his cross examination by the defense in the former president’s hush money trial. Cohen’s $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels is tied to Trump’s 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial.
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
An anti-Trump protester is detained by officers from the New York City Police Department (NYPD) for disrupting a press conference, organized by Republicans and supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump after they attended his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments linked to extramarital affair with Stormy Daniels, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., May 20, 2024.
Andrew Kelly/Reuters
A supporter of former U.S. President Donald Trump flies in a plane with a banner along the Hudson River, as Trump’s trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments linked to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election continues, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., May 21, 2024.
Andrew Kelly/Reuters
Donald Trump Jr. speaks at a news conference by supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump after attending his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments linked to extramarital affair with Stormy Daniels, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., May 21, 2024.
David (Dee) Delgado/Reuters
Family of former U.S. President Donald Trump, including Donald Trump Jr., Tiffany Trump, and Eric Trump watch as he arrives for his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, U.S., May 28, 2024.
Spencer Platt/Reuters
Robert De Niro, center, argues with a Donald Trump supporter after speaking to reporters in support of President Joe Biden across the street from Trump’s criminal trial in New York, Tuesday, May 28, 2024.
Seth Wenig/The Associated Press
A supporter of former President Donald Trump reads a “Jews for Trump” sign outside Manhattan Criminal Court, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in New York.
Julia Nikhinson/The Associated Press
Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump walks to the courtroom during his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, U.S., May 29, 2024.
Charly Triballeau/Reuters
Daniels, 45, testified during the trial about the sexual encounter she said she had with Trump at a hotel in 2006, when he was married to his current wife Melania.
Trump’s then-fixer, Michael Cohen, told the court Trump gave the green light to send Daniels a payment of $130,000 US to keep her from speaking about the incident in the final weeks of the 2016 election, when Trump faced multiple accusations of sexual misconduct.
Cohen said he made the payment and that Trump had planned to pay him back with monthly payments disguised as legal work.
Trump had pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges and denied having had the alleged sexual encounter with Daniels in 2006.
Reacting to the verdict Thursday, Cohen told The Associated Press via text message that “today is an important day for accountability and the rule of law.”
There is a wide range of potential penalties for the crime of which he now stands convicted: he could receive anything from probation to a maximum of four years behind bars.
Trump will have to first meet with a probation officer in coming days. The officer will put together a sentencing report for Merchan to use at sentencing in July, including details such as whether Trump shows any remorse.
The case in Manhattan District Court was the first of Trump’s criminal cases to go to trial. He faces three other prosecutions in connection with other alleged criminal behaviour before, during and after his time in the White House.
Biden’s campaign said the verdict showed that no one was above the law and urged voters to reject Trump in the election.
“There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box,” the campaign said in a statement.
A demonstrator holds up a sign after the announcement of the verdict in Trump’s criminal trial in New York City on Thursday. (Mike Segar/Reuters)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rhianna Schmunk
Senior Writer
Rhianna Schmunk is a senior writer for CBC News based in Vancouver. Over a decade in journalism, she has reported on subjects including criminal justice, civil litigation and climate change. You can send story tips to rhianna.schmunk@cbc.ca.
With files from Alexander Panetta, The Associated Press and Reuters
