Donald Trump convicted of falsifying documents in historic verdict

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
31 May 2024 02:04

Donald Trump becomes the first US president to be convicted of a crime as a New York jury finds him guilty on 34 counts of falsifying documents in a hush money case.

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Former President Donald Trump walks outside of Manhattan Criminal Court after a jury convicted him of felony crimes, May 30, 2024, in New York. (AP)

On Thursday, May 30, Donald Trump became the first US president to be convicted of a crime. After the conviction, Trump left the courthouse in a motorcade and arrived at Trump Tower.

A New York jury found Trump guilty of falsifying documents to conceal a payment made to silence an adult actress, Stormy Daniels, before the 2016 election.

After two days of deliberation, the 12-member jury unanimously found Trump guilty on all 34 counts he faced.

Trump watched without emotion as the jurors confirmed the guilty verdict.

Justice Juan Merchan has scheduled sentencing for July 11, just three days before the Republican National Convention, where Trump is expected to be formally nominated for president.

Trump had opted out of testifying

Defendant and former US President Donald Trump decided, earlier on May 28, not to testify in his hush money trial, as criminal defendants usually don't testify in their own trials since he would have been at risk of perjury if he lied under oath when asked questions by prosecutors.

Trump's legal team has since called two witnesses on his behalf.

Retired New York judge George Grasso said in an interview last week, "He could tank his whole case with one outburst."

Trump previously pleaded not guilty to all 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with the alleged hush money payments intended to silence adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The trial's unfolding proceedings are expected to delve into the intricacies of Trump's financial dealings and his conduct prior to the 2016 election.