On Thursday, a jury in New York found former President Donald Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records, marking a historic legal and political event. This conviction, tied to falsifying records related to hush money payments made to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels, makes Trump the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a crime.
The trial began in mid-April and culminated in the unanimous jury decision. Among the key elements was testimony from Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen, who admitted to making the payments at Trump's direction to influence the 2016 election. Trump has denied the claims and plans to appeal the verdict, which carries a potential prison sentence ranging from 1 1/3 to four years. His sentencing is scheduled for July 11.
The conviction has significant political ramifications, as Trump remains a leading candidate for the 2024 presidential election. Despite the legal blow, many of Trump's supporters continue to rally behind him, viewing the case as politically motivated. Prominent Republicans, like Senator Lindsey Graham, have also defended Trump, suggesting the verdict could backfire on Democrats.
Trump, campaigning throughout the trial, faces three other criminal cases but none scheduled for trial before the November election. The upcoming months are set to test how this conviction and ongoing legal battles will influence voters in one of the most contentious periods of U.S. political history.