Trump found guilty on all counts in hush money trial in historic verdict

NEW YORK — The jury in former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial found him guilty on all 34 felony counts on Thursday in a historic verdict. 

The jury convicted the former president on charges related to a hush money payment made by Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen to adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016.

Sentencing for Trump will take place July 11.

Trump reacts to guilty verdict

The former president maintained his innocence throughout the trial. Immediately following the verdict, Trump again said he was innocent and criticized the trial.

“This was a rigged, disgraceful trial. The real verdict is going to be November 5, by the people,” he said.

We didn’t do a thing wrong. I’m a very innocent man. And it’s okay, I’m fighting for our country. I’m fighting for our constitution. Our whole country is being rigged right now. This was done by the Biden Administration in order to wound or hurt a political opponent. And I think it’s just a disgrace and we’ll keep fighting. We’ll fight till the end and we’ll win because our country’s gone to hell,” Trump continued.

Presidential reaction to the conviction

President Joe Biden took to X shortly after the verdict was read to say, “There’s only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot box.”

Biden asked for campaign donations in his post.

There’s only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot box.

Donate to our campaign today: https://t.co/aJXS9oti0a

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) May 30, 2024

 Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign also released a statement reacting to the conviction.

In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law. Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain. But today’s verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president,” the statement read in part.

Does the hush money verdict mean prison time for Trump?

 

KSL legal analyst Greg Skordas joined Jeff Caplan’s Afternoon News to share his insight into the verdict.

Skordas said he wasn’t surprised that the jury found Trump guilty on all counts.

“The quick verdict meant it was probably going to be 34 to nothing, either guilty or not guilty.”

The jury convicted Trump on felony charges. Skordas said each charge holds a prison sentence of up to four years.

However, because the case involves a former president, Skordas said it would be complicated to determine whether Trump will see any prison time.

“The judge has to weigh his [Trump’s] lack of remorse and his complete contempt for the court during the entirety of the trial. He was making public comments the entire time,” Skordas said. “No judge in America ever wants to be in that position.”

Though it’s possible Trump could face prison time, Skordas said he thought it was improbable.

What does the verdict mean for America?

Inside Sources host Boyd Matheson also shared his thoughts on what the verdict means for the country.

“I think we should all step back… and just recognize this is not a good day for the Republic. We need to expect more out of our leaders at every level,” Matheson said.

As for what it means for the 2024 presidential election, Matheson cited a recent poll from NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist.

The poll found that 67% of respondents said the verdict wouldn’t affect how they voted in the election. 

“So if 33% say they are persuadable based on the result of this particular case, that’s bad news for the Trump campaign. They had a lot of work to do anyway in a very tight race and now that hurdle got just a little bit higher,” Matheson said.

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