A Manhattan jury found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, marking the first time in American history that a former president has been convicted of a felony crime. The verdict followed a high-profile, six-week trial centered on a hush money scheme intended to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.
The case, officially titled The People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump, revolved around payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
Prosecutors alleged Trump orchestrated a $130,000 payment to Daniels through his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to silence her about an alleged sexual encounter, aiming to prevent political damage during the final days of the 2016 campaign. Trump then reimbursed Cohen, but the payments were falsely recorded in Trump Organization business records as legal expenses.
The 34 felony counts specifically related to:
- 11 falsified invoices
- 12 falsified ledger entries
- 11 checks with false notations, nine of which were signed by Trump himself[9]
Prosecutors argued that these falsifications were intended not just to conceal the hush money payment, but also to cover up violations of campaign finance and tax laws, and to unlawfully influence the election.
Following his victory in the 2024 presidential election and a series of legal delays, Trump is sentenced to an unconditional discharge on January 10, 2025, meaning he faces no jail time, fines, or probation.
Sources
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ABC News
PBS
Politico
Associated Press
US News
Berkeley
NPR
New York Times
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