Donald Trump becomes first former US president convicted of a crime

After a New York jury found him guilty on all charges in his hush money case, Donald Trump became the first former US president convicted of a crime. This verdict comes months before an election that could potentially see him return to the White House.

The 12-member jury declared after two days of deliberations that it had found Donald Trump guilty of all 34 counts against him, according to news agency Reuters. Any verdict needed to be unanimous.

Days before the Republican National Convention, which is scheduled to officially nominate Donald Trump for president on July 15, Justice Juan Merchan scheduled the punishment for July 11.

The jurors were thanked by Merchan for their service. Nobody has the right to force you to do anything against your will. You have a choice,” Merchan remarked.

The decision thrusts the US into uncharted area ahead of the presidential election on November 5, when Republican nominee Donald Trump will attempt to unseat Democratic President Joe Biden.

Although those found guilty of that offence frequently receive lower terms, fines, or probation, he risks a maximum punishment of four years in prison. If he were to win, his incarceration would not stop him from running for office or from campaigning.

Before being sentenced, he won’t be imprisoned.

Trump, 77, was predicted to file an appeal despite his denial of any wrongdoing.

Speaking outside the courtroom, Donald Trump said, “We didn’t do a thing wrong, I am a very innocent man. We’ll keep fighting. We’ll fight to the end, and we’ll win.”

“The real verdict is going to be on November 5 by the people. This was a rigged decision from day one,” he added.

Reuters/Ipsos polling indicates that a guilty decision could cost Donald Trump some support from independent and Republican voters. Opinion polls show Trump and Biden, 81, in a close fight.

According to a person with knowledge of the inner workings of the Donald Trump campaign, the outcome was anticipated to accelerate his consideration of selecting a female running mate for vice president, as reported by Reuters.

As his SUV drove away from the courthouse, Donald Trump gestured through the tinted window. According to Reuters, Trump supporters congregated alongside media, law enforcement, and bystanders in a park across from the courthouse.

Republicans who support Donald Trump swiftly denounced the decision. Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson remarked, “Today is a shameful day in American history,” according to a prepared statement.

“US President Convicted of a Crime: Fallout and Reactions”

The decision also encouraged some of Trump’s regular backers to increase their contributions to him and, in one instance, make a sizable one for the first time.

Notably, WinRed donating, Trump’s website for fundraising, momentarily crashed following the decision.

Megadonors such as hotelier Robert Bigelow and casino mogul Miriam Adelson threw their weight behind Trump on Thursday, signalling that he was winning states. Their contributions would underwrite a frenzy of pro-Trump advertisements, door-knocking, and phone banking.

Criminal proceedings against Trump, according to Robert Bigelow, a prominent Trump supporter who has already donated over $9 million to an outside organisation in his favour, are a “disgrace.”

As promised, Bigelow told Reuters, “I’m sending President Trump another $5 million.”

Former Trump ambassador to Jamaica Don Tapia stated that he intended to donate about $250,000 to Trump this election along with a small group of relatives and friends.

Following the ruling, Shaun Maguire, a software investor from Silicon Valley, revealed on social networking platform X that he had given $300,000 to Trump’s campaign.

Following a six-week trial during which porn star Stormy Daniels gave extensive testimony regarding an alleged sexual encounter she had with Trump in 2006 while he was married to his current wife Melania, the jury found Trump guilty of falsifying company paperwork. Trump disputes that he and Daniels ever had sex.

The trial has diverted Trump’s focus from his campaign to unseat Biden, but he capitalized on the media attention throughout.

Immediately following the verdict, Trump’s campaign released a fundraising appeal titled “I am a political prisoner!” and announced plans for a public statement to journalists early Friday.

Political analyst and Texas Christian University professor Keith Gaddie noted that the full political impact of these events remains to be seen. “It probably doesn’t sway many votes, but in states with particular swing votes, it could make a difference at the margins,” he said.

Trump, known for his bold real estate ventures before his unexpected rise to the presidency in the 2016 election, is likely to face probation as a first-time convict. An appeal is virtually guaranteed but could drag on for months.

Since the case was brought by the state of New York rather than the federal government, Trump would be unable to pardon himself if elected president, as only the governor could clear his name in this scenario.

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