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Trump hush money trial: Trump found guilty on all counts in historic case

PHOTO:  Former President Donald Trump arrives for his criminal trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City.
5:09
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
Trump's hush money trial: Biggest takeaways
By Aaron Katersky, Peter Charalambous, Olivia Rubin, Lucien Bruggeman, Julia Reinstein
Last Updated: May 31, 2024, 5:42 PM
Video by Jessie DiMartino
Last Updated: May 31, 2024, 5:42 PM

Former President Donald Trump has been found guilty on all 34 felony counts related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. It marks the first time in history that a former U.S. president has been convicted on criminal charges.

MORE: Can Trump still be elected president after being convicted in hush money case?

Trump last April pleaded not guilty to a 34-count indictment charging him with falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen made to Daniels in order to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.

Top headlines:

  • Biden calls Trump's remarks 'dangerous'
  • Trump calls judge 'tyrant,' slams Cohen without naming him
  • 'The truth always matters,' Michael Cohen says
  • Trump departs, sentencing set for July 11
  • Trump found guilty on all counts in historic case
Here's how the news is developing.

Pinned
May 30, 2024 9:36 PM

Trump guilty on all 34 counts

PHOTO: Illustration
ABC News
People of the State of NY v Donald J Trump - Guilty on All counts.
ABC News

Pinned
May 28, 2024 10:28 PM

Hope Hicks' testimony was 'nail' in Trump's coffin, says prosecutor

Prosecutor Josh Steinglass again showed the jury the summary chart the DA's office prepared, which outlines each of the allegedly falsified business records.

Steinglass suggested the jury could bring the chart into deliberations if they request it.

He harped on the testimony of former White House Communications Director Hope Hicks, who testified that Trump preferred the Stormy Daniels story come out after the election.

"I think Mr. Trump's opinion was it was better to be dealing with it now, and that it would have been bad to have that story come out before the election," Hicks testified before breaking down on the witness stand.

PHOTO: In this courtroom sketch, May 28, 2024, members of Donald Trump's family watch court proceedings, in New York. They are, from left: Michael Boulos, Tiffany Trump's husband; Donald Trump Jr.; Eric Trump; Lara Trump; and Tiffany Trump.
Elizabeth Williams/AP
In this courtroom sketch, May 28, 2024, members of Donald Trump's family watch court proceedings, in New York. They are, from left: Michael Boulos, Tiffany Trump's husband; Donald Trump Jr.; Eric Trump; Lara Trump; and Tiffany Trump.
Elizabeth Williams/AP

"She basically burst into tears ... because she realized how much this testimony puts the nail into the defendant's coffin," Steinglass told the jury.

Steinglass pressed his argument that the Stormy Daniels payments were in service of the election, rather than Trump's marriage. Any desire to protect his wife was "far less significant to him" than how a negative story about him might affect the 2016 election," Steinglass said.

"The payment was for Trump's campaign," Steinglass stressed.

"It was a campaign contribution, and Cohen knows that better than anyone else -- because he went to prison for it," he said.


May 31, 2024 5:42 PM

Biden calls Trump's remarks 'dangerous'

In an address from the White House, President Joe Biden said Donald Trump's criticism of the judicial system in the wake of his criminal conviction yesterday is "reckless" and "dangerous."

"The jury reached an unanimous verdict that found him guilty on all 34 felony counties. Now he'll be given the opportunity, as he should, to appeal that decision, just like everyone else has that opportunity," Biden said. "That's how the American system of justice works, and it's reckless, it's dangerous, it's irresponsible for anyone to say it was rigged just because they don't like the verdict."

PHOTO: President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the verdict in former President Donald Trump's hush money trial and on the Middle East, from the State Dining Room of the White House, on May 31, 2024, in Washington, D.C.
Evan Vucci/AP
President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the verdict in former President Donald Trump's hush money trial and on the Middle East, from the State Dining Room of the White House, on May 31, 2024, in Washington, D.C.
Evan Vucci/AP

"It was a state case, not a federal case, and it was heard by a jury of 12 citizens," said Biden, who made the remarks at the beginning of an address on the status of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

"Our justice system has endured for nearly 250 years, and it really is the cornerstone of America," he said. "Our justice system and justices should be respected. We should never allow anyone to tear it down. That's America. That's who we are, that's who will always be, God willing."

"The American principle that no one is above the law was reaffirmed," Biden said of yesterday's verdict.


May 31, 2024 3:47 PM

Trump calls judge 'tyrant,' slams Cohen without naming him

Former President Trump, speaking from Trump Tower the morning after his historic felony conviction, slammed witness Michael Cohen while calling the judge in the case a "tyrant."

"We're going to be appealing in many different things. He wouldn't allow us to have witnesses, he wouldn't allow us to talk, he wouldn't allow us to do anything," Trump said of Judge Juan Merchan. "The judge was a tyrant."

PHOTO: Former U.S. President Donald Trump holds a press conference following the verdict in his hush-money trial at Trump Tower on May 31, 2024 in New York City.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Former U.S. President Donald Trump holds a press conference following the verdict in his hush-money trial at Trump Tower on May 31, 2024 in New York City.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Of Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen, who testified for the prosecution, Trump said, "This was [once] a highly qualified lawyer. I'm not allowed to use his name because of the gag order. He is a sleaze. Everybody knows that. Took me a while to found out."

Trump, who still remains to be sentenced on July 11, remains under the limited gag order that prohibits him from attacking witnesses in the case as well as jurors and attorneys other than Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg.

"This should have been a non-case. Everybody said it was a non-case," Trump said.


May 31, 2024 3:30 PM

Trump attacks judge a day after his conviction

Donald Trump, speaking from Trump Tower, lodged a litany of complaints about his conviction yesterday on criminal charges, attacking the judge in the case, the DA who brought it, his former attorney who testified against him, and the charges themselves.

"We had a conflicted judge, highly conflicted. There's never been a more conflicted judge," he said of Judge Juan Merchan.

"You saw what happened to some of the witnesses that were on our side," Trump said. "They were literally crucified by this man who looks like an angel, but he's really a devil. He looks so nice and soft. People say, 'Oh he seems like such nice man' -- unless you saw him in action."

"It's a rigged -- it was a rigged trial," Trump said, repeating his oft-stated baseless claim.



May 31, 2024 2:42 PM

Trump to hold press conference at Trump Tower

The morning after his historic felony conviction, former President Trump is set to address reporters at an 11 a.m. ET press conference.

Trump will speak from the atrium of Trump Tower, just feet away from the golden escalator he rode down in 2015 when he kicked off his first bid for president.

Now, nearly nine years later, Trump is expected to address to his conviction and the legal battle he faces amid his third presidential bid.

Campaign officials and some supporters are also expected to be present.


May 28, 2024 10:28 PM

Hope Hicks' testimony was 'nail' in Trump's coffin, says prosecutor

Prosecutor Josh Steinglass again showed the jury the summary chart the DA's office prepared, which outlines each of the allegedly falsified business records.

Steinglass suggested the jury could bring the chart into deliberations if they request it.

He harped on the testimony of former White House Communications Director Hope Hicks, who testified that Trump preferred the Stormy Daniels story come out after the election.

"I think Mr. Trump's opinion was it was better to be dealing with it now, and that it would have been bad to have that story come out before the election," Hicks testified before breaking down on the witness stand.

PHOTO: In this courtroom sketch, May 28, 2024, members of Donald Trump's family watch court proceedings, in New York. They are, from left: Michael Boulos, Tiffany Trump's husband; Donald Trump Jr.; Eric Trump; Lara Trump; and Tiffany Trump.
Elizabeth Williams/AP
In this courtroom sketch, May 28, 2024, members of Donald Trump's family watch court proceedings, in New York. They are, from left: Michael Boulos, Tiffany Trump's husband; Donald Trump Jr.; Eric Trump; Lara Trump; and Tiffany Trump.
Elizabeth Williams/AP

"She basically burst into tears ... because she realized how much this testimony puts the nail into the defendant's coffin," Steinglass told the jury.

Steinglass pressed his argument that the Stormy Daniels payments were in service of the election, rather than Trump's marriage. Any desire to protect his wife was "far less significant to him" than how a negative story about him might affect the 2016 election," Steinglass said.

"The payment was for Trump's campaign," Steinglass stressed.

"It was a campaign contribution, and Cohen knows that better than anyone else -- because he went to prison for it," he said.


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