Former U.S. President Trump Convicted in Criminal Case
Former President Donald Trump has been found guilty by a New York jury for falsifying business records in an attempt to hide a payment made to former adult film actress Stormy Daniels that could have negatively impacted his 2016 election campaign. This historic verdict marks the first time a former U.S. President has been convicted of a crime.
Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts of the charge, with each count carrying the possibility of imprisonment. The sentencing will be determined by Judge Juan Merchan at a special session scheduled for July 11.
Following the jury’s decision, Trump declared that this verdict was just the beginning of his fight and expressed confidence in eventually prevailing. The trial, which lasted a month and a half, focused on allegations that Trump instructed his lawyer Michael Cohen to pay $130,000 to Daniels to keep quiet about an alleged affair prior to the 2016 election.
The upcoming court hearing on July 11 is set to occur just days before the Republican Party convention in Milwaukee, where Trump is expected to be officially nominated as a candidate for the U.S. presidency.
Legal experts are divided on the potential outcome of the sentencing, with some suggesting a maximum sentence of four years in prison, and others noting that the multiple counts in the indictment could lead to a much lengthier sentence. Nonetheless, there has been speculation that Trump could potentially still pursue the presidency even while serving a prison term.
In the aftermath of the verdict, Trump’s donation page reportedly received an overwhelming response, causing the page to crash due to the influx of requests. Additionally, his approval ratings surged and donations to his campaign increased significantly.
The implications of this historic verdict on Trump’s political future remain to be seen, as the former president continues to face legal challenges while maintaining a strong base of support among his followers.
