Found Guilty on 34 Charges in Hush-Money Case

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has been found guilty in his Manhattan criminal hush money trial. After five weeks of testimony, a jury has convicted Trump on all 34 counts of falsifying business records. The verdict was met with Trump calling the trial a “rigged” and a “disgrace,” stating that the “real” verdict will be delivered in November when voters pick the next President. Sentencing for Trump is set for July 11.

During the trial, the jury heard from key witnesses including a former tabloid publisher, a Hollywood fixer, the former president’s lawyer, and a porn star. The former publisher of The National Enquirer, David Pecker, detailed a “catch and kill” scheme to influence the 2016 election that was planned at a meeting at Trump Tower in August 2015.

Judge Juan Merchan instructed the jury to set aside bias or personal opinions about Trump in their deliberations. Trump, accompanied by his son and a longtime friend, spent most of the trial with his eyes closed shut.

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass emphasized that the case was about a conspiracy and cover-up, stating that the effort to deceive voters may have impacted the 2016 election. Trump, facing the possibility of four years in prison or probation, compared himself to Mother Teresa as he exited the courtroom, claiming that even she could not beat the charges.

The jury listened attentively as the judge explained the law and outlined the process of jury deliberations. Despite the guilty verdict, Trump remained defiant, stating, “Mother Teresa could not beat these charges, but we’ll see.” The trial has captivated the nation and raised questions about the future of the former president.