Trump Trial Today : A Manhattan jury has made a big decision. They found former President Donald Trump guilty on 34 charges. These were about lying on business records. It’s the first time a past U.S. president has been found guilty of a felony. This news has stirred the country. What does it mean for Trump’s future in politics? And how will it affect the whole nation? We’ll look at the newest happenings in this legal case.
Can Trump still run for president after this conviction? The answer isn’t as simple as you’d think. Even with a felony, nothing in federal law stops felons from wanting to be president. It’s rare, but some felons have tried, though not successfully. We must wait to see how this will affect Trump’s hopes for 2024. This situation may lead to big legal and political fights.
Key Takeaways
- Donald Trump has been found guilty on all 34 charges of falsifying business records, making him the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a felony.
- The jury deliberated for nearly 12 hours over two days before delivering the unprecedented verdict, which was reached by 12 “everyday New Yorkers.”
- Trump was convicted for his role in a hush money payment scheme to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election, which prosecutors argued was part of a pattern to cover up negative stories about the former president.
- Trump’s sentencing is set for July 11, 2024, just days before the start of the Republican National Convention, where he could face up to 4 years in prison.
- The potential impact of Trump’s conviction on his 2024 presidential campaign remains uncertain, as there is no federal law that bars felons from running for or serving as president.
Trump Convicted on All 34 Felony Charges
In a groundbreaking move, a Manhattan jury declared former President Donald Trump guilty on 34 charges. These charges were for creating false business accounts. This is a first for any former U.S. president, marking a unique moment in history.
Unprecedented Verdict Makes Trump First Former President Convicted of a Felony
A jury of 12 regular people from New York City took almost 12 hours to decide. They found Trump guilty on every count. This decision is a major event in his legal challenges. It also brings up questions about his future in politics.
Trump Vows to Appeal, Calls Trial ‘Rigged’
Trump responded with anger, calling the trial unfair and shameful. He promised to appeal and believes the real judgment will be in the 2024 election. His supporters think the case was more about politics than justice, agreeing with his view of a fixed trial.
Judge Sets Sentencing Date for July 11, 2024
The judge plans to officially sentence Trump on July 11, 2024. This is just before the Republican National Convention starts. Trump could get up to 4 years in jail. But, the judge will have the final say on his sentence.
The Historic Nature of Trump’s Conviction
The conviction of former President Donald Trump on 34 felony charges is a huge moment in American history. With Trump’s conviction, he becomes the first major-party presidential nominee to be guilty of a crime while running for the White House.
First Major-Party Presidential Nominee Convicted While Running for Office
His conviction is a big deal, showing the serious outcomes of Trump’s legal issues. This makes him the first former U.S. president convicted of a felony. It really affects whether he could run again in 2024.
Potential to be First Sitting President as a Convicted Felon
Imagine, if Trump wins in 2024, he would break a major record. He would be the first sitting president in U.S. history to have a felony conviction. Such a situation would pose a lot of tricky questions about the law and the presidency.
The manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, noted the historic nature of the conviction. He said the decision was made based on facts and the law, like any other case.
trump trial today
The jury in Trump’s hush money trial took nearly 12 hours over two days to decide. They found him guilty on all 34 charges. A group of 12 non-experts, described as “everyday New Yorkers,” made this historic decision. They based their verdict only on the facts and the law.
Jurors Deliberated for Nearly 12 Hours Over Two Days
The 12 jurors spent about 12 hours over two days digging into the trump trial details. Their deliberation highlighted the seriousness of the matter. They focused on the trump trial proceedings closely before making their final call.
Verdict Delivered by 12 ‘Everyday New Yorkers’
It was the trump trial jury, made up of 12 “everyday New Yorkers,” that reached this landmark decision. They didn’t let their own viewpoints or politics influence their judgment. They looked at the trump trial length and all the facts with a clear eye to reach their decision.
Reaction to Trump’s Conviction
The guilty verdict against former President Donald Trump has stirred strong reactions. Biden’s team sees it as important proof that nobody is above the law. On the other hand, Trump’s supporters call it a “political witch hunt.”
Biden Campaign: ‘No One is Above the Law’
The Biden team says the verdict is key to showing everyone must follow the law. They believe the 2024 election will be about choosing to reject Trump’s “chaos.” They argue it’s about not letting him threaten American freedoms or voting against him.
Trump Allies Decry ‘Political Witch Hunt’
Trump’s allies, led by House Speaker Mike Johnson, disputed the case. They say it was only about politics, not the law. They’ve tried to show the conviction as a biased attack instead of a real legal decision. This reaction to trump conviction underlines the lasting division and trump conviction backlash in politics after his trump conviction reactions.
Trump’s Legal Battles Ahead
After being convicted recently, former President Donald Trump still has many legal challenges ahead. The New York hush money case was just the first. Now, Trump is dealing with three more felony charges. These lawsuits are in different places, including Washington D.C. and Georgia.
Three Other Felony Indictments Pending
Besides the New York case, trump’s legal battles are everywhere. He faces more criminal cases across the nation. For instance, he has a federal charge in Washington D.C. This is about his actions after the 2020 election.
There’s also a Georgia case. It looks at how he pressured officials to change the state’s election results.
Potential Impact on 2024 Presidential Race
How Trump’s conviction might affect his 2024 presidential run is still uncertain. Being found guilty doesn’t stop him from running. But, the felony charges and legal issues could make it hard for Trump. He might face difficulties winning back the White House. This is mainly because voters aren’t used to a convicted person running for president.
The Hush Money Payment Scheme
At the core of Trump’s conviction was a hush money payment scheme. This scheme involved a $130,000 payment. It was made by his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to adult film star Stormy Daniels. The payment aimed to prevent Daniels from talking about an alleged affair with Trump before the 2016 election.
Payments to Adult Film Star Stormy Daniels
The trump hush money payments to Stormy Daniels played a key role in the case. Prosecutors claimed these payments were a part of a bigger effort. They wanted to hide bad stories about Trump during the 2016 campaign.
Cohen’s Testimony as Key Witness
Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, took the stand as a central witness. He shared that Trump directed him to make the payment to Stormy Daniels. Then, Cohen detailed that Trump allowed a plan to pay him back in $35,000 chunks monthly in 2017. Cohen’s detailed account from inside was vital. It directly connected Trump to the campaign finance violations.
Can Trump Still Run for President?
Even though Trump received a guilty verdict, it doesn’t stop him from running for president. There’s no federal law against it. Past candidates, like Debs in 1920, have run for president with criminal backgrounds.
This issue is complex. Many legal and political experts argue about a felon becoming president. Despite this, Trump’s allies aim to support his return to office.
Scenario | Likelihood | Potential Outcome |
---|---|---|
Trump Runs for President in 2024 | Moderate | If elected, he would become the first sitting president in U.S. history to be a convicted felon. |
Trump Decides Not to Run | High | The Republican Party would need to find a new standard-bearer, potentially opening the door for a different candidate to emerge as the nominee. |
Trump’s Conviction is Overturned on Appeal | Low | This would remove the legal barrier to his candidacy, but the political fallout may still hamper his chances. |
Trump’s Post-Conviction Press Conference
After being found guilty on all 34 felony charges, former President Donald Trump held a fiery press conference. He criticized the Biden administration, calling them the worst leaders in American history.
Attacks on Biden Administration
Trump accused the Biden team of leading the country to what he called a “fascist state.” He said the charges were a set-up to ruin his chances in the 2024 election.
Claims of ‘Fascist State’ Under Biden
Trump said the true judgment would be made by the people in the next election. He vowed to win back the presidency and fix what he called “chaos” and the loss of Americans’ freedoms under the Biden administration.
Fundraising Efforts After Conviction
Right after the guilty verdict, Trump’s campaign wasted no time in starting new fundraising efforts. They saw the case as a “political Witch Hunt trial.” In the 10 hours that followed, Trump said he got $39 million in donations. His campaign later stated it was actually $34.8 million.
The fundraising appeal shows how the Trump team used the conviction to boost donations. They labeled it a political attack. This was to get more support and money from his followers for his 2024 campaign.
Turning the guilty verdict into a chance to raise more funds, the former president’s campaign aims to win over more supporters. The strategy banks on using the conviction to strengthen his base. This could also help increase his funds for the 2024 presidential bid.
Comparisons to Fall of Roman Empire
Former president Donald Trump is facing 34 felony charges. Some people compare this to the fall of the Roman Empire. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy discuss these similarities.
Ramaswamy, especially, compares the two. He said Trump’s situation reminds him of the Roman Empire’s fall. This suggests the United States has similarly decayed at its core.
These comparisons are becoming more common within Trump’s supporters. They link his legal problems and the country’s division to a big societal decline. This decline is similar to the Roman Empire’s fall centuries ago.
But, experts warn against simple comparisons. They say the Roman Empire’s fall had many reasons. The trump trial roman empire comparison looks interesting. However, it might not show all the current problems in the U.S.
Biden Calls Trump’s Rigged Claims ‘Irresponsible’
Former President Donald Trump said his trial was “rigged.” President Biden hit back, calling this claim “irresponsible” and “dangerous.” Biden pointed out that Trump had the same fair treatment as anyone. He could defend himself as needed.
Biden made it clear that “no one is above the law.” He said the best way to stop Trump from coming back is through voting. This shows how important Trump‘s conviction is, especially for the 2024 race.
“Trump‘s claims of a ‘rigged’ trial are irresponsible and dangerous. The jury was chosen like any other, and he had every opportunity to defend himself. No one is above the law, and the only way to keep him out of the White House is at the ballot box.”
Biden is fighting against Trump‘s attack on the system. He stands for the respect of the law and the fairness of the court. This highlights how critical Trump‘s conviction is for the future of our politics.
Supporters and Protesters at Trump Tower
Hundreds of people stayed outside Trump Tower in Manhattan after a press conference. They were both supporters and detractors of the former president. They chanted and waved flags. This showed the intense feelings and division about the former president’s conviction.
Many supporters hoisted signs and flags to show their loyalty to Trump. At the same time, protesters were against him and the verdict. The Trump tower demonstration highlighted the growing gap between people. This gap increased after the trump tower reaction.
The crowds outside Trump Tower kept growing. This was a clear sign of the ongoing disputes between trump supporters protesters. These disputes have been a big part of the former president’s political journey. The trump tower reaction also showed how big an impact his conviction has had. It has fueled the debate about his legacy and future in politics.
Conclusion
The historic conviction of former President Donald Trump on 34 felony charges of falsifying business records is a big deal. It’s never happened before in American politics. The ruling has huge implications, like affecting the next presidential race if Trump decides to run.
This conviction could change a lot in American politics. It shows that even powerful people must follow the law. The American people will decide what this means for Trump and his political future.
This moment will spark many discussions about democracy in the U.S. It’s key to keep following the law, no matter who is involved. The country will be watching closely in the coming months and years.
FAQ
What was Donald Trump convicted of?
A Manhattan jury found Donald Trump guilty on 34 charges. These included falsifying business records. This makes him the first former U.S. president to have a felony conviction.
When is Trump’s sentencing scheduled?
Trump’s sentencing will happen on July 11, 2024. This is a few days before the Republican National Convention starts. He could get up to 4 years in prison. But, the final decision lays with the judge.
Can a convicted felon run for president?
The verdict doesn’t stop Trump from running or being a president. There’s no national law against it. It’s not common, but other felons have tried running for president.
How did the jurors reach the verdict?
The jury, made of 12 New Yorkers, took about 12 hours. They discussed the case over two days. Then, they made their historic decision against Trump.
How did the Biden campaign and Trump’s allies respond to the conviction?
Biden’s team said the guilty verdict proves “no one is above the law.” Meanwhile, Trump’s supporters believed the case was politically motivated. They think it wasn’t a fair trial, echoing Trump’s complaints about the case being “rigged.”
What other legal battles does Trump face?
Trump isn’t out of legal trouble yet. Besides the New York case, he faces three more felony charges. These are in places like Washington D.C. and Georgia.
What was the hush money payment scheme about?
Trump’s conviction was linked to hush money payments. Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, paid 0,000 to Stormy Daniels. This was to keep her quiet about her alleged affair with Trump. These payments happened before the 2016 election.
How did Trump respond to the verdict?
Trump called the trial “rigged” and “disgraceful.” He said he’d fight the decision, planning to appeal. Trump believes his true judgment will be the 2024 election.
How much money did Trump’s campaign raise after the verdict?
Following the verdict, Trump’s campaign went on to raise .8 million in just 10 hours. They used the conviction to encourage people to donate.
What comparisons were made between the U.S. and the fall of the Roman Empire?
Some of Trump’s supporters, like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, see parallel between now and the Roman Empire’s fall. They think the events following Trump’s conviction mirror that decline.
Source Links
- https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/latest-trumps-conviction-hush-money-case-set-hold-110706291
- https://www.nbcnews.com/trump-on-trial
- https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/30/politics/donald-trump-hush-money-trial-verdict/index.html
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