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Jury finds Donald Trump guilty on all 34 counts
Donald Trump became the first U.S. president to be convicted of a crime when a New York jury found him guilty of falsifying documents to cover up a payment to silence a porn star ahead of the 2016 election.
#LIVE Crowds gather outside New York courtroom after Trump guilty verdict- Ticker https://t.co/iG69Euaf53
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After deliberations over two days, the 12-member jury announced it had found Trump guilty on all 34 counts he faced. Unanimity was required for any verdict.
Trump watched the jurors dispassionately as they were polled to confirm the guilty verdict.
Justice Juan Merchan set sentencing for July 11, days before the July 15 start of the Republican National Convention expected to formally nominate Trump for president.
Merchan thanked the jurors for their service. “Nobody can make you do anything you don’t want to do. The choice is yours,” Merchan said.
BREAKING: Trump’s donation site crashes due to surging traffic
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The verdict plunges the United States into unexplored territory ahead of the Nov. 5 presidential election, when Trump, the Republican candidate, will try to win the White House back from Democratic President Joe Biden.
Appeal looms
Trump, 77, has denied wrongdoing and was expected to appeal.
“This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who is corrupt,” Trump told reporters afterwards.
“The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people,” Trump said, adding: “I am a very innocent man.”
He faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison, though others convicted of that crime often receive shorter sentences, fines or probation. Incarceration would not prevent him from campaigning, or taking office if he were to win.
The American people see through Crooked Joe Biden’s rigged show trial.
So many Americans were moved to donate to President Trump’s campaign that the WinRed pages went down.
We are working on getting the website back online as quickly as possible.
Stay strong.
— Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@TeamTrump) May 30, 2024