Former US President Donald Trump has been found guilty by a New York jury of falsifying business records during the 2016 election campaign. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, brought forward 34 counts of criminal behavior against Trump, each corresponding to an invoice, voucher, or check related to the repayment of his lawyer, Michael Cohen, for a $130,000 hush money payment to Stormy Daniels, a former adult film star.
Bragg accused Trump of attempting to hide damaging information and unlawful activities from American voters before and after the 2016 election by paying Daniels to keep quiet about their alleged affair. Both Cohen and Daniels provided testimony during the court proceedings.
The jury’s verdict, delivered on Thursday evening, found Trump guilty on all 34 counts, marking him as the first president in US history to be convicted of a felony. The judge will determine Trump’s sentence on July 11, with each count potentially carrying a maximum prison term of four years.
Despite the conviction, Trump, who is currently running for reelection against President Joe Biden, has consistently claimed that the prosecution is a politically motivated “witch hunt.”
