Donald Trump Found Guilty of Felony First Former US President to Face Such Charges
Posted by admin on 2024-06-05 |
Donald Trump has made history as the first former US
president to be convicted of a felony. A grand jury in New York found him guilty
on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a payment made to
silence a porn star ahead of the 2016 presidential election. This verdict adds
to Trump's mounting legal challenges as he bids to return to the White House in
November.
Deliberation
and Verdict
The decision came after about a day and a half of
deliberations by the jury. Following the announcement, Trump expressed his
anger in front of the media, calling the trial “disgraceful and rigged.” “This
was a rigged, disgraceful trial," Trump told reporters after leaving the
courtroom, as quoted by AP. “The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the
people. They know what happened, and everyone knows what happened here."
Jury
Unanimously Finds Trump Guilty
In a historic verdict, a panel of 12 Manhattan jurors
unanimously agreed that Trump, 77, falsified business records to conceal a
$130,000 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels, aiming to
influence the 2016 election. Prosecutors argued that by disguising the payment
as legal expenses, Trump broke election law.
Sentencing
and Political Implications
Trump's sentencing is scheduled for July 11, just four
days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where
he is expected to be formally nominated as the party's presidential candidate
against incumbent Joe Biden, an 81-year-old Democrat, in the November 5
elections. For now, Trump has been released without having to pay bail. The
conviction does not prevent Trump from standing in November's election, but he
is almost certain to appeal against it.
More
Legal Challenges for Trump
The former president faces
three other criminal cases, including two allegations of election interference.
Trump has pleaded not guilty in all of these cases. None of these cases have
trial dates scheduled, and legal experts largely agree that it is unlikely any
will begin before election day.
