Former President Donald Trump was found guilty of 34 felony counts by the jury in his “hush money” trial in New York on Thursday, making him the first former president in U.S. history to be convicted of a crime. At the end of their second day of deliberations the 12 person jury found Trump guilty on all counts.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office brought the unprecedented case against Trump, aiming to prove he falsified financial records – “with intent to defraud” – to mask a $130,000 hush money payment his former-attorney Michael Cohe nmade to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in the final days of his 2016 presidential election, and also that he did so in order to conceal a second crime (elevating the charges from misdemeanors to felonies). Trump pleaded not guilty to the 34-count indictment.
New York Judge Juan Merchan set a sentencing date of July 11, just four days before the start of the Republican National Convention, where Trump will be formally nominated. He could face up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine for each count, but Merchan could limit the punishment to a fine, probation or home confinement.
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