Recapping Trump’s Conviction: Verdict, Sentencing, and Appeals
Former President Donald Trump was found guilty this week of 34 counts of felony business fraud related to hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. Despite the verdict, Trump plans to appeal the conviction and will be sentenced on July 11.
The charges against Trump, brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, accused him of being part of an illegal conspiracy to undermine the integrity of the 2016 election. While hush money payments themselves are not illegal, each charge was linked to allegedly false entries in the financial records of the Trump Organization.
Key witnesses and evidence in the trial included physical evidence such as checks and ledgers showing payments from Trump’s company to his former attorney, Michael Cohen. Testimonies from David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, and Stormy Daniels herself played crucial roles in the case.
The sentencing for the Class E felonies Trump faces is scheduled for July 11, where the judge will determine the former president’s fate. Trump has indicated that he intends to appeal the conviction, a process that could take months to navigate through the New York legal system.
Despite the guilty verdict, Trump’s eligibility to run for office remains unchanged. His campaign has reported a significant influx of donations following the trial, and support from within the GOP continues to be strong.
While Trump still faces additional charges in other cases, he has managed to delay those trials through various legal maneuvers. The future of his legal battles remains uncertain as he continues to fight against the multiple legal challenges he is currently facing.