Former US President Donald Trump convicted in hush-money trial

File photo: Donald Trump

May 31, 2024

A New York jury convicted former US President Donald Trump on all 34 charges in his hush money case on Thursday. The verdict makes Trump the first criminally convicted former US President but does not prevent him from campaigning for another term.

Judge Juan Merchan set sentencing for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where GOP leaders are expected to formally make him their nominee.

The maximum sentence for Trump’s crime of falsifying business records is 1-1/3 to four years in prison. It is rare for people with no criminal history who are convicted only of falsification of business records to be sentenced to prison in New York. Punishments like fines or probation are more common, according to Reuters.

Trump is expected to appeal the verdict.

“This was a rigged, disgraceful trial,” Trump told reporters after leaving the courtroom. “The real verdict is going to be November 5 by the people. They know what happened, and everyone knows what happened here.”

Trump’s campaign fundraised off the verdict, including a pitch that called him a political prisoner.

Share with others