Trump convicted on all 34 counts in NY hush-money trial – National & International News – THU 30May2024

Trump convicted on all 34 counts in NY hush-money trial. Leaving the courthouse, Trump says this is “long from over”.

Trump convicted on all 34 counts in NY hush-money trial

Near the close of their second day of deliberations, the jury in former President Trump’s New York hush-money case have found him guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

Just a few minutes before, Judge Juan Merchan had been preparing to dismiss the jury for the day at 4:30pm local time. Up to that point, reporters in the courtroom say the mood was light, even at the defense table. When it was announced that a verdict had been reached, the mood changed. Trump, previously smiling and chatting with his attorneys, became sober, pursed his lips and crossed his arms tightly across his chest as they awaited the jury. When the verdicts were read out, Trump remained quiet and somber, initially shaking his head and before sitting motionless until the last verdict was read. 

Afterward, Judge Merchan set sentencing for July 11. Merchan himself will pass sentence and has wide leeway on what punishment to impose. Each count carries four years in prison, but if Merchan decides on a custodial sentence, they will most likely run concurrently, meaning that Trump would serve only four years. Or, Merchan could be lenient and sentence Trump to probation, house arrest or a fine.

In previous statements on the numerous occasions when Trump violated his gag order, Merchan made clear that he was loathe to incarcerate Trump. This was, Merchan said, partly due to the logistical challenges and the burden on facilities and corrections officers that would come with incarcerating a prisoner with his own Secret Service security detail. This would indeed pose unprecedented complications.

Trump speaks after verdict

Trump was allowed to leave the courtroom today and addressed the press briefly (2-minute video). Though he attempted to strike a defiant note, he sounded unusually defeated and hoarse.

“This was a disgrace,” Trump began. “This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who is corrupt”. He later said Merchan never should have been allowed to preside over the case. Trump complained that Merchan wouldn’t grant him a change of venue, which Trump had apparently wanted because he was polling at “5% or 6% in this area”.

Trump said that the “real verdict is gonna be November 5, by the people,” referring to the election, “and they know what happened here and everybody knows what happened here”. He went on to say NYC District Attorney Alvin Bragg was “Soros-backed” and went on to raise a litany of allegations of corruption and unfair treatment by the justice system.

“I’m a very innocent man,” Trump said, before going on to say “this was done by the Biden administration”. He vowed to “keep fighting an we’ll fight to the end and we’ll win,” and went on to give a mini stump speech. Trump concluded by saying this case was “long from over” before leaving the courthouse flanked by his attorneys. 

In previous moments when Trump has faced legal peril, his supporters have rallied and given him a surge in the polls. As of right now, polls  show Trump with a comfortable lead over President Biden in key swing states. There’s no predicting how actual felony convictions and potential jailtime will affect his support, especially among independent voters with whom Trump has been performing well up till now.

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