Trump Becomes First Ex-American President Convicted in Criminal Court
Judge Juan Merchan expressed gratitude to the twelve jurors for their challenging and stressful job. The jury gave their united verdict after deliberating for over 11 hours over two days.
Donald Trump, looking disheartened, sat silently with slumped shoulders in the Manhattan courtroom as the verdict was unveiled. Outside, he spoke to the press about a "shame" and a "manipulated process." According to Trump, the "real verdict" will be decided on November 5th during the presidential vote. He maintained his innocence, stating,"I'm fighting for our country. I'm fighting for our constitution."
Todd Blanche, Trump's lawyer, shared on CNN that an appeal would be filed immediately following the sentencing. The appeal process might continue till after the election.
Trump's campaign launched a fundraiser with the declaration, "I'm a political prisoner!" Mike Johnson, a Trump supporter and Republican leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, deemed it a "disgraceful day in American history."
The sentencing date set by Judge Merchan is just four days before the Republican Party convention, where they anticipate nominating Trump as their presidential candidate. He plans to contest incumbent Biden, the one who defeated him in the 2020 election.
Even if a prison sentence, considered unlikely, is imposed, it won't stop Trump from running for president. The U.S. Constitution doesn't even forbid serving as president while being imprisoned.
The White House issued a statement after the verdict, merely demonstrating respect for the rule of law. Biden has so far abstained from commenting on Trump's legal predicament - doesn't want to lend any credibility to his claim of biased proceedings.
Biden's campaign team reacted with a campaign appeal. The jury's decision showcased that "no one is above the law." However, it didn't alter the fact that the public still faced a simple reality: "There's only one way to get Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box."
Trump faced a guilty verdict for paying $130,000 in hush money (equivalent to roughly €120,000 today) to Stormy Daniels, a previous porn star, prior to the 2016 election through falsifying business documents to conceal an alleged affair with her. Stormy Daniels asserted that she was compensated to keep quiet about the affair, which Trump denies.
Michael Cohen, Trump's ex-lawyer who testified in court, stated that he had paid the hush money with Trump's consent. Per the indictment, Cohen was reimbursed by the Trump Organization for these outlays, which were disguised as legal fees. Cohen, now an enemy of Trump, deemed the verdict an "important day" for the rule of law.
The repercussions of the verdict on the political landscape are unclear. Bobby Kennedy, a supporter of conspiracy theories and an independent presidential candidate, commented on X that the verdict against Trump could backfire.
According to a Texas Christian University political scientist, Keith Gaddie, there would most likely not be an apparent change in voter preferences. Nevertheless, in close-race states, a verdict could "influence things from one direction to another."
A survey released before the jury's decision by broadcasters NPR and PBS showed that at least ten percent of Republican and eleven percent of independent voters asserted that if Trump were found guilty, their vote for Trump would be less probable. With a tight competition expected between Trump and Biden, a few percentage points could determine the outcome.
Trump continues to face charges in three other cases. In two of them, it's about his endeavors to overturn his 2020 election deficit against Biden, and in the third case, it's about his taking classified government records to his private home in Florida. When the trials for these cases might commence remains unknown.
Read also:
- In the aftermath of the guilty verdict, Stormy Daniels expressed her satisfaction, stating, "Justice was served."
- During the career of Michael Cohen, he served as Donald Trump's personal attorney and admitted to orchestrating the $130,000 hush money payment to Stormy Daniels.
- CNN reported on the verdict, emphasizing the significance of the ruling in the context of American politics.
- The Republicans, despite their support for Trump, face criticism for their stance on the matter, with some party members advocating for a change in leadership.
- President Joe Biden, while avoiding direct commentary, has emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law in the United States.
- The Democrats view the verdict as a testament to their belief in accountability, using it as a campaign tool to rally support ahead of the presidential election.
- Criminal proceedings against Donald Trump continue to take place, with three other cases pending, each involving allegations of misconduct during his presidency.
