Trump is the first US president to be criminally convicted after hush money trial

In a historic turn of events, former President Donald Trump has been found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in a conspiracy to corruptly influence the 2016 presidential election. This marks the first-ever criminal conviction of an American president, setting a new precedent in the country’s political landscape.

An emotionless Trump watched as the verdict was read, with the jury confirming their decisions when polled by the defense. The former president, who refused to testify in his defense, now faces up to four years in jail and thousands of dollars in fines. He is set to be sentenced on July 11 at 10am ET.

Trump, outside the court, denounced the trial as rigged and disgraceful, proclaiming his innocence and blaming the Biden administration for political motives. His son, Donald Trump Jr, took to social media to decry the verdict and rally support for his father’s cause.

The Biden campaign responded by emphasizing the importance of the upcoming election in keeping Trump out of the Oval Office, regardless of his felony conviction. They characterized Trump’s campaign as increasingly unhinged and focused on revenge and retribution.

The trial, which focused on Trump’s efforts to cover up alleged affairs before the 2016 election, involved testimony from key figures like Michael Cohen and Hope Hicks. The prosecution presented a paper trail of evidence, including emails, phone records, and checks signed by Trump himself.

Despite the guilty verdict, Trump’s legal battles are far from over, with 54 other criminal charges pending in multiple jurisdictions. The former president faces charges related to withholding classified documents, as well as attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election in Georgia and Washington DC.

As Trump’s campaign continues to navigate these legal challenges, the political landscape in the US remains tumultuous and uncertain.