Donald Trump has become the first former president in US history to be criminally convicted, after being found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records during his hush money trial in New York. The sentencing date has been set by Judge Juan Merchan for July 11.
The felony charges are related to hush money payments made to silence adult performer Stormy Daniels. After deliberating for less than 12 hours in the hush money criminal case, the jurors delivered their verdict in the late afternoon. The 12 New Yorkers on Trump’s jury reached a unanimous decision on his fate, eliminating the possibility of a hung jury.
In response to the verdict, Trump maintained his innocence and outlined his intentions to “keep fighting”.
Trump reacts to guilty verdict
Trump faced 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made by his former fixer, Michael Cohen, to adult performer Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.
This payment was intended to keep her alleged affair with Trump a decade earlier under wraps until after the election. Trump denies the affair and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In a statement made outside the courthouse shortly after the verdict was read, the former US president insisted that he is “a very innocent man”.
“This was a rigged, disgraceful trial,” Trump said. “The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people, and they know what happened here, and everybody knows what happened here.”
What next for the former president?
Hypothetically, Trump could face jail time, but this is unlikely. There are several legal proceedings that will take place before the former president would have to serve any sentence, with the sentencing set for the July 11 hearing.
First-time offenders on charges like those faced by Trump rarely face time in jail. Trump is also likely planning to appeal the verdict, which will lengthen the time it takes to reach a solid conclusion to the legal battle even further.
Trump’s legal team has 30 days to submit a notice of appeal to the court and six months to complete the full appeal. This will set off another prolonged legal battle, likely extending past the November election.
The verdict will not bar Trump from politics. His sentencing hearing is set to take place just four days before he is scheduled to become the nominee at the Republican National Convention officially.
Politically, it remains to be seen what impact Trump’s legal battle will have on his bid to become the president of the United States for a second time. Data from polls seems to suggest that most Trump supporters would still vote for Trump if he were found guilty.