Donald Trump found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records

New Delhi, May 31:  Former U.S. President Donald Trump has been convicted on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in his historic criminal trial in New York. This makes Trump the first current or former president to be found guilty of a crime, an unprecedented event in American history.

A Manhattan jury found Trump guilty of concealing hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels, which were part of an alleged illegal conspiracy to undermine the integrity of the 2016 presidential election.

Judge Juan Merchan has scheduled a sentencing hearing for July 11, where Trump could face prison time or probation, although legal experts suggest a fine is a more likely outcome. Despite this conviction, Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee for the 2024 presidential election, can still run for office.

In response to the verdict, Trump called it a “disgrace” and attacked Judge Merchan. He emphasised that the “real verdict” would come in the 2024 presidential election. President Joe Biden commented that Trump’s ultimate defeat must arrive at the ballot box.

The trial, which lasted six weeks and featured testimonies from 22 witnesses including Stormy Daniels, concluded with a unanimous decision by the 12 jurors after two days of deliberation. The trial highlighted Trump’s efforts to conceal a payment made by his former lawyer to buy Daniels’ silence shortly before the 2016 election.

The political and electoral ramifications of this verdict remain uncertain. The Biden campaign reiterated that the key to defeating Trump lies in the electoral process, not the courtroom. This case is one of four criminal cases Trump is navigating while campaigning for president. He faces additional indictments in Georgia, Washington, D.C., and Florida, pleading not guilty to all charges.

The U.S. Secret Service, responsible for protecting current and former presidents, stated that the verdict does not alter its protective measures. There are no specific or credible threats at this time, and security around Trump remains unchanged.

Democratic lawmakers and critics of Trump celebrated the verdict, with figures like California Rep. Adam Schiff affirming that “justice has prevailed” and that the rule of law has triumphed over Trump’s attempts to evade accountability.

This historic conviction follows Trump’s indictment in March 2023 by the Manhattan district attorney on state charges related to the 2016 hush-money payment. Further legal challenges for Trump include charges of mishandling classified documents, federal election interference, and state-level election subversion in Georgia.

The results of these ongoing legal battles will shape the course of American politics as Trump seeks to return to the White House amidst mounting legal challenges.