Trump's verdict preserves this crucial American principle. The End.
#### TRUMP'S TRIAL DIARY
- Legal analyst Norm Eisen has been in the courtroom during Donald Trump's Manhattan criminal trial, providing updates for CNN Opinion. Check out previous installments:
- I've been watching the Trump jury - here's what could be happening in deliberations
- Trump's fate depends on these three questions
- Trump's defense ends with a disastrous witness
Former President Donald Trump was on trial for falsifying business records related to an illegal payment scheme to conceal a $130,000 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The payment was made during the 2016 presidential election campaign in response to allegations that the two had a sexual encounter (which Trump denies). The 34 counts involve 11 invoices, 12 ledger entries, and 11 checks, with nine signed by Trump himself.
The verdict on these document falsification charges is significant. It marks the first time in American history that a person holding the highest office has been found guilty of a crime by a jury of peers. It has been a long journey, from my involvement in investigating this misconduct during the first Trump impeachment in 2019.
The jury's foreman announced the verdict after the judge had almost sent them home for the day. Amidst the shocked silence of the audience of around 60 journalists, the verdict was read out for count one - "guilty" - and repeated for all 34 counts.
As argued by DA Alvin Bragg's team, the crime was related to Trump's presidency, involving falsifying documents to conceal a conspiracy to influence the 2016 election by paying hush money. Even now, it's strange not to use the word "allegedly" in this context.
The lack of precedent for a trial of a president has been a topic of discussion throughout the years. The importance of this trial lies in the timeless American ideal of no one being above the law. From the foundation of our country, overthrowing a British king to establish a constitution, our nation has never wavered in upholding this principle.
The jury showed their attentiveness during the judge's read-back of the instructions for deliberation on Thursday morning. They hung on the judge's every word, making the atmosphere feel especially serious. In any case involving a competent judge, jurors usually feel and listen with great respect.
The judge, Merchan, followed the verdict with his usual professionalism. He thanked the jury for their diligent work, stating, "you gave this matter the attention it deserved, and I thank you for that."
Despite the verdict, Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche tried to request a spurious acquittal, claiming, "there's no way this jury could have reached a verdict without relying on Michael Cohen - he lied in this case. He cannot be used to convict President Trump." However, Judge Merchan quickly dismissed this argument: "I'm sure you misspoke. I do not know that anyone committed perjury in this case ... your motion is denied."
The focus now shifts to the potential impact of the verdict on the upcoming election, the sentencing scheduled for July 11, with every count potentially carrying up to four years of imprisonment, and the status of the three other criminal cases against Trump.
However, on this day, the weight of Trump being held accountable by a jury of his peers is resonating across the nation and the world.
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In the context of providing updates for CNN Opinion, legal analyst Norm Eisen shared his thoughts on the implications of Trump's conviction, highlighting the significance of upholding the principle that no one is above the law, despite holding high office. Despite Trump's lawyer's argument, the jurors' verdict was based on the evidence presented during the trial, reflecting various opinions on the legitimacy of Trump's actions.
