Donald Trump convicted on all counts in New York hush money case – National

In a historic and groundbreaking verdict, a New York jury found former President Donald Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments during the 2016 U.S. election campaign. This makes Trump the first former American president ever convicted on criminal charges.

The jury deliberated for less than 12 hours before reaching the verdict on Thursday, following a highly publicized trial in Manhattan. State prosecutors accused Trump of conspiring to suppress media stories about alleged affairs during his presidential campaign and of concealing reimbursements to his fixer for paying off a porn star to keep her allegations quiet just days before the election.

This verdict marks a significant moment in U.S. political history, as it raises the question of a convicted felon running for the presidency. Trump, who is seeking to return to the White House this fall, faces three other criminal indictments, but those cases are unlikely to go to trial before the election in November.

It remains unclear whether prosecutors will seek a prison sentence for Trump, and if so, whether Judge Juan Merchan would impose that punishment if requested. The charges carry a maximum sentence of four years behind bars.

During the trial, Trump pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing, claiming that the alleged encounter with the porn star never happened. His former lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, who became the prosecution’s star witness, testified that he paid off the porn star at Trump’s direction and was later reimbursed by Trump through the Trump Organization.

The trial featured nearly two dozen witnesses, including Stormy Daniels, the porn star involved, and David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer. Cohen testified that Trump was intimately involved in the hush money discussions, contradicting Trump’s claims of innocence.

The trial drew massive attention, with pro- and anti-Trump protesters gathering outside the courthouse daily. Trump’s Republican allies in Congress, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, travelled to New York to speak in his defense, while supporters of President Biden portrayed Trump as unfit for office.

Trump faces additional federal charges related to his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election and withholding classified documents after leaving the White House. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The verdict has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, setting the stage for a potentially tumultuous election season.