Donald Trump convicted after found guilty in hush money trial

Donald Trump has been found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records, a historic verdict that makes him the first former US president to be convicted of a felony.

This outcome also marks the first time a major-party presidential nominee has been found guilty of a crime while running for the White House.

The Manhattan jury delivered the verdict after nearly 12 hours of deliberation over two days.

While the legal outcome doesn’t prevent Trump from seeking reelection, it will ultimately be up to voters to decide the significance of the guilty verdict.

Trump slammed the trial as “rigged” and “disgraceful,” claiming innocence and vowing to continue fighting.

The case centered on Trump’s alleged role in falsifying records to cover up a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels to keep her from speaking out about an alleged affair before the 2016 election.

The verdict sets a sentencing date for July 11, 2024, just before the Republican National Convention.

President Joe Biden’s campaign emphasized the importance of defeating Trump at the ballot box, stressing that “no one is above the law.”

Trump’s campaign fundraised off the verdict, casting it as a “political Witch Hunt trial.”