First in U.S. presidential history! Former U.S. President Trump found guilty of 34 charges related to hush money, sentencing clashes with nomination period

The New York jury on Thursday found former President Trump guilty of all 34 felony charges of falsifying business records, stemming from hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels by Trump's former personal lawyer before the 2016 presidential election.

First Conviction of a U.S. President

77-year-old Trump becomes the first U.S. president in history to be convicted, and he still faces three other pending criminal cases. In addition to the criminal conviction, Trump also faces a $45 million civil judgment for business fraud in Manhattan Supreme Court. He is also appealing two civil defamation judgments that would require him to pay nearly $90 million in damages to a writer who accused Trump of raping her in the mid-1990s.

Sentencing Date Ahead of Key GOP Event

A Manhattan Supreme Court judge has set Trump's sentencing date for 10 a.m. on July 11 Eastern Time, just days before the Republican National Convention, where Trump is expected to be confirmed as the GOP presidential nominee.

Although Trump faces up to four years in prison for each charge, his legal team has indicated plans to appeal.

Hush Money Case

The charges involve Trump and the Trump Organization falsifying business records to conceal payments made to his personal lawyer, who had given adult film star Stormy Daniels $130,000 to keep silent about her extramarital affair with Trump in 2006. It has been confirmed that the payment was intended to prevent the story from affecting Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.

Trump Proclaims Innocence

Trump maintained his innocence as the verdict was read. His son displayed visible anger as the jury delivered the "guilty" verdicts for each charge. Following the verdict, Trump claimed his innocence and called the trial a "disgrace," accusing the judge of corruption.

Biden Campaign Team: Trump Poses Threat to Democracy

President Biden's campaign team swiftly responded, stating that Trump's conviction highlights his threat to democracy. A campaign spokesperson remarked that the only way to prevent Trump from returning to the White House is through the ballot box.

The Manhattan district attorney who prosecuted the case commended the jurors for their dedication. He noted that despite involving a former president, the trial proceeded like any other case, with jurors reviewing extensive evidence and hearing testimony from 22 witnesses.

Impact of Trump's Sentencing on Elections

If Trump is not imprisoned this fall, he still retains the right to run for office. As the legal battles continue, these events carry significant implications for his political future and the Republican Party.

Trump has advocated for the U.S. to become a leader in the cryptocurrency space, pledging to commute the sentence of the Silk Road founder.