Former President Donald Trump is found guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records by a jury in New York on Friday, marking the end of a historical trial stemming from “hush money” payments made to adult movie stars before the 2016 election.
The trial lasted about six weeks, and the jury spent two days deliberating before returning its verdict. Trump objected to the decision as “rigged” and sworn to fight conviction. his punishment scheduled for July 11.
Here are the basics of the allegations, what happened during the trial and beyond:
What is the charge?
Image by Seth Wenig/Getty
Trump is there charged on March 30, 2023, and charged with 34 state counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, a New York felony.
What is the verdict?
Trump was found guilty on all charges on May 30, 2024. The jury returned a unanimous verdict in Manhattan court where the trial opened for six weeks.
What do jurors need to convict?
Judge Juan Merchan ordered the jury before they start their deliberations to find Trump guilty of falsifying business records in the first degree, they must unanimously conclude not only that he caused the records to be falsified, but that he “conspired to promote or prevent the election of people to public office by illegal means.”
There are several types of “unlawful means” that the jury heard, including: falsifying other business records, violating campaign finance laws and violating income tax laws.
What exactly did the prosecutor say Trump?
Prosecutors from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office said Trump met with the former publisher of the National Enquirer David Peker and former fixer Michael Cohen at Trump Tower in August 2015, and the trio conspired to identify, buy and squash stories that could damage Trump’s reputation and his presidential campaign.
Just days before the 2016 election, Cohen paid $130,000 for adult film star Stormy Danielswho claimed she had sex with Trump in 2006. She agreed to keep the story under wraps in exchange for money.
After Trump became president, Cohen was paid $35,000 a month for a year in a series of checks, most of which were signed by Trump. Prosecutors said the checks and associated business records were illegally presented as payments to Cohen for legal work, but were actually intended to be reimbursements for the Daniels deal, among other things.
What did Trump’s lawyers say?
Jane Rosenberg
Trump’s lawyers say the arrangements with Pecker and the National Enquirer are unusual for political campaigns, which often try to influence the media’s narrative about a candidate. He said non-disclosure agreements like the one Cohen made with Daniels are also common.
To cross-examine Cohen, Trump’s lawyers noted that Cohen’s title at the time was “the president’s personal attorney,” and that he was indeed paid for ongoing legal work. He said Cohen and Trump had an oral retainer agreement, but not a signed one.
What about Trump himself?
Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges and denied any wrongdoing. He accused Bragg, a Democrat, of pursuing the case for political gain. Trump called the case a “con job” and said the charges were “rigged” after the verdict came down.
Who are the main players?
Trump, Cohen and Pecker got top billing during the trial. Pecker was subpoenaed by prosecutors for the first time, and described the August 2015 Trump Tower meeting, as well as years of communications with Cohen and Trump about the scheme.
The testimony reinforces key moments presented by Cohen, whose credibility the defense has repeatedly sought to undermine. Pecker’s time on the stand was for weeks of testimony from 18 others before Cohen, the last witness. Prosecutors sought to use those weeks to back up Cohen’s story with corroborating evidence.
On the first day of deliberation, the jury asked to hear part of Pecker and Cohen’s testimony related to the Trump Tower meeting.
What did Cohen say?
Cohen said Trump received regular updates on efforts to cover up scandalous stories about him when he became president in 2016, and personally signed off on plans to falsify related records.
Cohen recounted three instances in which he, Pecker and a National Enquirer editor worked to secure the rights to a story with outrageous claims about Trump.
Jurors heard a secret recording Cohen made of a conversation with Trump, in which Trump appeared comfortable buying stories from another woman, Karen McDougal.
“So, what do you have to pay for this? 150?” Trump can be heard speaking on the tape.
Shortly after the Enquirer paid for the McDougal story, the Daniels story hit the market. Her lawyer approached the Enquirer about selling the rights a day after the release of the “Access Hollywood” tape in October 2016. In the tape, Trump was heard saying that he could “grab (the woman) by the p****” and “make her do something.” ” The tape poses a major threat to his electoral prospects.
Cohen recounts intense negotiations in which everyone involved — Trump, Cohen, Daniels, his attorney and the Enquirer’s editor — knew that Daniels’ claims about a sexual relationship with Trump could have dire consequences for the campaign.
Cohen sent Daniels’ attorney $130,000 of his own money on October 28, 2016.
During his testimony, Cohen described how working for Trump for a decade was an “amazing” experience that turned sour after the “hush money” payments to Daniels became public in 2018.
He testified that he believed he was subjected to a “pressure campaign” by Trump and his allies after the FBI raided his home and office that year, prompting a pair of guilty pleas to federal charges.
Under cross-examination from defense attorney Todd Blanche, Cohen admitted that he began his life by loudly criticizing Trump.
He admitted to wanting to see Trump arrested, and said as much on his podcast.
Cohen also admitted to lying under oath on multiple occasions, and, in a shocking moment, admitted for the first time to having stolen tens of thousands of dollars from the Trump Organization.
What did Daniels say on the stand?
Christine Cornell
Daniels was not part of the plan to influence the election. He never worked for Trump and had no involvement in any of the crimes charged in the case.
However, her story about having sex with Trump in 2006 was the catalyst that led to a series of events that led to an unprecedented criminal trial. Prosecutors said he was called standing because Blanche denied she ever had sex in the opening statement, a statement that they believe must be denied.
Daniels said he met Trump at a celebrity golf tournament in Nevada, and was later invited by Trump’s bodyguards to have dinner with the famous businessman. He said they met in a hotel suite that he described in detail, down to the box, and that he was expecting dinner when he started talking about business.
Daniels said Trump has shown a keen interest in her industry, and seems to appreciate her insights. After about two hours of talking, without dinner, he asked to go to the bathroom. He recalled being surprised when he saw that Trump had stripped down to a T-shirt and boxers. He described the type that followed as, on his part, reluctance.
This part of her testimony led the defense to seek a mistrial, a motion that was denied.
Daniels went on to describe her interactions with Trump over the next year or so — including a brief meeting with him at Trump Tower — as he promised to advise her on a spot on the reality television competition. When he told her that wasn’t going to happen, they stopped communicating.
Then, through a representative, he began shopping the story, trying to sell the rights. As Trump’s presidential candidacy gained steam in 2016, his efforts also heated up. He reached fever pitch in October of that year, when the “Access Hollywood” outtakes appeared.
Daniels said he knew the story could cost more, because it could be bad for the campaign. Cohen testified about the attempt to buy it.
What’s next?
Trump’s conviction kicks off the sentencing portion of the case. Merchan, the judge, set a July 11 date for Trump’s sentencing hearing. He asked the defense to submit any motions it intends to file by June 13, and the prosecution must respond by June 27.
Falsifying business records carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison and a $5,000 fine for each charge, but Merchan has a wide leeway when determining punishment. Some experts expect Merchan to use other options, such as fines, probation or home confinement. But others said they could order Trump to serve a few more terms.
