In a historic ruling, a jury comprising twelve Americans has found former President Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony charges of falsifying business records in his New York City criminal hush-money trial. Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for the upcoming election, becomes the first former U.S. president in the nation’s history to be convicted of a crime.
The verdict, delivered after deliberation, marks a significant milestone in the legal proceedings against Trump, who now faces sentencing scheduled for July 11. This timing places the sentencing just four days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where Trump is expected to be formally nominated as the GOP’s candidate for president.
The jury’s decision was announced after they entered the courtroom at 5 p.m. on Thursday, following an earlier notification to Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Juan Merchan that they had reached a verdict. Merchan read the verdict on each of the 34 counts, thanking and dismissing the jury before informing them of a private meeting to follow.
In response to the verdict, Trump issued a statement decrying the trial as rigged and unjust. He criticized the judge as conflicted and corrupt, alleging bias in the proceedings. Trump vowed to continue fighting against what he perceives as an attack on him and his presidency, asserting his innocence and casting doubt on the integrity of the legal process.
“This was a disgrace,” Trump stated. “This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt. It’s a rigged trial, a disgrace. They wouldn’t give us a venue change. We were at 5% or 6% in this district, in this area. This was a rigged, disgraceful trial.”
Trump’s statement reflected his ongoing defiance and determination to challenge the outcome of the trial, framing it as part of a broader struggle for the country’s future and the preservation of its constitutional values.
As the legal battle unfolds, Trump’s conviction sets a precedent with far-reaching implications, signaling a new chapter in the intersection of law, politics, and presidential accountability in the United States.
