A New York jury found ex-US President Donald Trump guilty of falsifying documents to conceal a payment to silence a porn star before the 2016 election on Thursday. This conviction made him the first president of the United States to face criminal charges.
The 12-member jury found Trump guilty of all 34 felony counts against him after two days of deliberation.
Justice scheduled Trump’s sentencing for July 11, just days before the Republican Party officially nominates him for president ahead of the November 5 election.
Falsifying business documents carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison, but convictions often result in shorter sentences, fines, or probation. Incarceration would not legally impede his ability to campaign or assume office in the event of a victory.
There will be no jail time for Trump before his sentencing.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing, and his attorney has stated that they will appeal the decision as expeditiously as possible.
“This was a disgrace.” He stated that the people will deliver the true verdict on November 5.
The case was generally considered to be the least significant of the four criminal prosecutions that Trump is currently facing. However, the verdict is of considerable importance at this time, as it is anticipated to be the sole one issued prior to the election, as the other proceedings have been postponed due to procedural challenges.
A guilty verdict could cause Trump to lose support from independents and Republicans, and opinion polls show that Trump and Biden are in a close race.
