FORMER United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump has been found guilty of all 34 counts of falsifying business records by a New York jury.
He was convicted on all charges in his hush-money case on Thursday, May 31, making history as the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a crime.
The trial began on April 15 and resulted in his conviction. He was found guilty of falsifying business records to pay back his attorney, Michael Cohen, for a $130,000 payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels the night before the 2016 election, after her claim to have had sex with him, which could have been disastrous for his campaign at the time.
Read also:
Trump pleads not guilty, arrested on criminal charges
Court refuses live coverage of Trump’s historic arraignment
Donald Trump indicted for hush money payment to porn star
Prosecutors charged Trump with participating in a criminal conspiracy to discredit the outcome of the 2016 presidential election and with an illegal attempt to stifle criticism, which included hiding a payment of hush money to an adult film star.
While addressing reporters, Trump said the verdict was a ‘disgrace’ and ‘rigged,’ noting that the ‘real verdict’ would come from voters in the November 5 presidential election.
“This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt,” he said.
The judge in charge of the case, Juan Merchan has set a sentencing hearing for July 11 right before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where Trump is due to receive the party’s formal nomination to face Democratic President Joe Biden in the election.
The sentencing however does not bar Trump from continuing his White House run.