Trump guilty in “hush money” trial as jury reaches verdict on felony charges – KION546

Written by Graham Kates, Katrina Kaufman and Olivia Rinaldi

NEW YORK, (CBS)- UPDATE ON MAY 30, 2024 AT 2:07 PM- Former President Donald Trump has been found guilty of all 34 counts of falsifying business records in a New York courtroom.

Trump becomes the first former president in U.S. history to be convicted of a crime.

The jury of 12 New Yorkers found that Trump violated the law by falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. They found him guilty on all 34 counts he faced.

The verdict was handed down in the Manhattan courtroom where Trump has been on trial for the past six weeks. The presumptive Republican nominee for president is now also a convicted felon.

The jury sided with prosecutors who said that Trump authorized the plan to falsify checks and related records in an effort to prevent voters from learning of an alleged sexual encounter with Daniels.

Prosecutors for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said the conspiracy spanned his 2016 campaign and continued well into his first year in the White House. Trump denied having sex with Daniels and pleaded not guilty.

Justice Juan Merchan set a sentencing date of July 11. Trump could face up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine for each count, but Merchan has wide leeway when imposing a sentence, and could limit the punishment to a fine, probation or home confinement. 

Trump trial jury reaches verdict, decision could be revealed soon

Jurors in former President Donald Trump’s “hush money” trial in New York has told the judge in the case that they have reached a verdict.

The decision comes after two days of deliberations by the jury of 12 New Yorkers, who were tasked with reaching a verdict on the 34 counts of falsification of business records that Trump faces. Prosecutors allege he worked to cover up a $130,000 payment that his attorney Michael Cohen made to adult film star Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 election. In exchange, Daniels agreed to remain silent about an alleged sexual encounter she had with Trump in 2006, which he denies.

Trump is the first former president in U.S. history to face criminal charges. He pleaded not guilty and denounced the trial as politically motivated. The trial lasted six weeks and featured testimony from 22 witnesses, including Cohen and Daniels. 

CBS News has reporters at the Manhattan courthouse where the verdict will soon be read. Follow live updates below.