The jury in New York found former President Donald Trump guilty of 34 felonies in his "hush money" trial on Thursday, marking the first time in U.S. history that a former president has been convicted of a crime.
The jury concluded that Trump unlawfully altered business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election. They reached a unanimous guilty verdict on all counts during their second day of deliberations.
Jurors supported prosecutors' claims that Trump approved a scheme to manipulate checks and associated records in order to conceal an alleged sexual entanglement with Daniels, aiming to keep voters uninformed.
Sentencing date of July 11 is scheduled; which is four days before the National Republican Convention. Trump could face up to four years in prison with a $5,000 fine for each count.
However, due to the nonviolent nature of the crime and Trump having no prior convictions, the likelihood of serving prison time is slim. Justice Juan Merchan could instead choose home confinement, probation, or a less severe form of supervised release. It's all up to Merchan on how Trump will be accountable for the charges found guilty on.
"This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt,” Trump spoke to reporters leaving the courtroom. He declared in a recent campaign email that he was a "Political Prisoner.
Check out former president Donald Trump reactions at the reading of the verdict in this historical criminal trial below.
Do you think the guilty verdict on 34 felony charges will help or end Donald Trump winning the Presidential Election? Drop your thoughts below on President Trump being a convicted felon?
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