Donald J. Trump, former President of the United States and current Republican candidate for the presidency, was convicted on Thursday (30) of falsifying business records to cover up an extramarital affair that threatened to derail his 2016 presidential campaign. The decision concluded an extraordinary trial that tested the resilience of the American justice system and that, besides entering history, will likely reverberate in the elections this November.
Trump was convicted on all 34 counts of falsifying business records by a jury of 12 New Yorkers, who deliberated for two days to reach a decision. The former president remained virtually expressionless after the jury issued its verdict.
His sentencing will be announced on July 11.
The jury concluded that Trump falsified records to conceal the purpose of the money given to his former lawyer, Michael D. Cohen. The false records disguised the payments as ordinary legal expenses when, in fact, Trump was reimbursing Cohen for a secret $130,000 settlement that the lawyer made with porn star Stormy Daniels to silence her account of a sexual encounter with Trump.
The criminal conviction could lead to a sentence of up to four years in prison, but Trump may never see the inside of a jail cell. He could receive probation when sentenced and will certainly appeal the verdict – meaning it could take years for the case to be resolved. Still, the jury’s decision is a unique moment in the country’s history.
Trump Can Still Be President
Nothing in the United States Constitution prevents a criminal from running for president or serving in the White House. Trump – who has long claimed that the case against him is politically motivated – is expected to try to leverage the verdict to his advantage during the campaign, portraying himself as a victim of a Democratic conspiracy.
Celebration and Outrage
The reaction to the historic verdict was immediate. A protester outside the courthouse held up a large sign reading “Trump Convicted.” On the other hand, Trump’s campaign sent out a fundraising appeal via email, calling him a “political prisoner.” And President Biden’s campaign urged its supporters not to remain idle, stating on social media that the only way to keep Trump out of the White House was by voting.
An 8-Year Odyssey
The first hint of the crimes committed by Trump emerged eight years ago, with a tip to The Wall Street Journal about another secret settlement: $150,000 to a Playboy model who claimed to have had an affair with the man who was then on the brink of the presidency.
Trump’s Response
Trump appeared somber during brief comments outside the courthouse, where he repeated complaints about the case, including that the judge, Juan M. Merchan, was biased against him. “The real verdict will be given on November 5, by the people,” he told reporters, without answering a question about why Americans should vote for a criminal. That is what he had to say.
Source: The New York Times