First Criminal Trial Finds Trump Guilty of All 34 Felony Counts
TL/DR –
Former President Donald Trump has been found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, with the unanimous verdict reached by a jury of 12. The finding could damage Trump’s political career, as he is planning to run again for the presidency against Joe Biden, and polls indicate significant harm to his reputation if found guilty. Trump’s lawyer Michael Cohen, who handled the hush money payments and then was repaid by Trump under false pretenses, was the key witness in the trial, and Trump also has three more criminal cases pending against him.
Former President Trump Convicted in Felony Case
On May 30, 2024, Ex-President Donald Trump encountered a significant setback as he was found guilty of 34 felony counts for falsifying business records linked to a hush money scheme. These records were deliberately concealed during the 2016 election to suppress information about an alleged affair with adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
Trump’s Political Career Potentially Affected
The unanimous verdict by a diverse jury of 7 men and 5 women indicates their implicit belief in the prosecution’s case. This could notably impact Trump’s political aspirations, who is considering re-running for White House against President Joe Biden. Various polls depict a decrease in his support, especially amongst key voting demographics, if found guilty.
Upcoming Sentencing Date
Justice Merchan has scheduled the sentencing for July 11, 2024. Each charge carries a potential sentence of up to 4 years, which may be served concurrently. There’s also a possibility of a sentence without jail time.
Background of the Trial
Longtime Trump’s aide, Michael Cohen, organized the $130,000 hush money payment to Daniels. Trump then inaccurately reported the repayment as legal fees and signed several false business records.
Cohen, the prosecution’s key witness, was backed by additional witnesses and documents like bank records, invoices, and checks signed by Trump. The four-week trial also involved Daniels’ testimony about their brief affair and insights from a former tabloid publisher about a “catch and kill” scheme to suppress negative stories.
Trump’s Other Ongoing Criminal Cases
The unprecedentedly indicted former US President is also awaiting trial for three other criminal cases. In August 2023, he was charged in Georgia for participating in an illicit ploy to overturn the 2020 election. Federal charges in Washington, D.C., allege similar attempts, while Smith has accused Trump of unlawfully removing classified documents from the White House. However, none of these cases are scheduled for trial before the 2024 Presidential Election.
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