Donald Trump has been found guilty by a jury of New Yorkers on all 34 counts of felony falsifying business records. This is the first time a former president and current republican candidate for president has been convicted of a crime.
Trump is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11–just four days before the Republican National Convention and a little over a week after he and President Biden are scheduled to face off in their first debate since their last election where Biden defeated the convicted republican.
Sentencing could include something as little as a fine to four years in prison for each of the 34 counts.
“This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt,” Trump said to reporters.
Trump has been on trial for this case since April 15 and it involves his previous attorney Michael Cohen who provided hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the final weeks of the 2016 presidential election. Trump pleaded not guilty.
Deliberations began Wednesday and concluded Thursday for a total of 9.5 hours.
Earlier this week, Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass, during his closing argument said, “the law is the law and it applies to everyone equally. There is no special standard for this defendant,” adding, “you, the jury, have the ability to hold the defendant accountable.”
Witnesses included former White House advisor Hope Hicks, former Trump Organization executives, and former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker.
Before the start of the trial, Trump suggested that he would testify. Despite that, he did not take the stand.
This story is developing.