- Trump, the first convicted former president in US history.
- The case centered on allegations of falsifying business records.
- The trial of the presumptive presidential candidate lasted more than six weeks.
Former President Donald Trump has been found guilty on all 34 counts in his hush money criminal trial in New York, making him the first former US president to be convicted in the country's history.
The jury deliberated for two days. The Jury has set July 11 for its sentencing. New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchán allowed him to remain free without bail.
The case centered on allegations that he falsified business records to conceal a money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election.
Prosecutors initially alleged that the former president falsified records to conceal his illegal interference in the 2016 presidential election by paying $130,000 to maintain his silence.
The trial against the presumptive Republican presidential candidate lasted more than six weeks. Trump's conviction marks another historic moment, with an uncertain impact on the 2024 presidential election.
After the 12-member jury began deliberating on Wednesday, Donald Trump, speaking to the media, said: “Mother Teresa couldn't get over these accusations. These accusations are rigged. The whole country is a disaster between the borders. and fake elections, and you have “A trial like this where the judge is so conflicted he can't breathe.”
The 77-year-old said: “It's a shame. And I mean it. Mother Teresa couldn't get over those accusations. But we'll see. We'll see how we do.”
The strategists, quoted by The Hill, said: “It is beneficial for Trump to create a narrative that the case is against him, lowering the bar if he is convicted or allowing him to declare victory against a rigged system in the case of that he be declared innocent.”
“So I'm going to stay here. It's five weeks and five weeks where I've basically not campaigned, although in the last few weeks I got a big lead in the polls,” he said.
“Something is happening. Because I think the people of this country see that this is a rigged deal.”
What will happen now
Since Donald Trump's trial began last month, people began to wonder about the future of the business magnate who had been indicted four times in different cases.
Trump was first impeached last year in March over his alleged payment of money to adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016, during his first run for the White House.
However, Donald Trump can still run for the White House despite being convicted.
Ilya Somin, a law professor at George Mason University, was quoted by The Hillas as saying, “It is certainly true that being convicted or even being in prison does not prevent one from running for president or even being elected.”
“However, taking office would be a difficult situation if the president were in prison.”
Richard L Hasen, a law professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, told CNN that the Republican still has a path to becoming president if he wins re-election in 2024.
“The Constitution has very few requirements to serve as president, such as being at least 35 years old. It does not prevent anyone accused, convicted, or even serving a prison sentence, from running for president and winning the presidency,” Hansen said. who is an expert in electoral law.
However, ambiguity remains about a president serving time in prison.
“How someone could serve as president from prison is a happily untested question,” Hasen said.
Hansen also said Trump can pardon himself if he is re-elected.
“It hasn't been proven whether he'll be able to do it. The Supreme Court may have to weigh in,” Hasen said, adding that Trump could “potentially appeal a conviction to the conservative Supreme Court.”
