Breaking

Former President Donald Trump attends his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on Thursday. (Mark Peterson-Pool / Getty Images)

Breaking: Crucial Verdict Has Been Reached in Trump's Trial

By Randy DeSoto May 30, 2024 at 2:23pm

The 12-person New York City jury found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 counts in the “hush money” case Thursday evening on the second day of deliberations.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged the former president with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in relation to a payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels through his then-personal attorney Michael Cohen before the 2016 presidential election.

The jury indicated to Judge Juan Merchan that they had reached their verdict shortly after 4:30 p.m. ET.

The jury had requested testimony from publishing executive David Pecker be read back to them, as well as testimony from Cohen.

The jurors also wanted portions of their instructions read back to them on Thursday by the judge.

VERDICT REACHED: The jury has come to a unanimous decision after hours of deliberations. The latest on the developing story: https://t.co/IUA5EZhrrd pic.twitter.com/3TvkdnimS1

— Fox News (@FoxNews) May 30, 2024

Trump is expected to immediately appeal the verdict, with his attorneys citing multiple issues concerning rulings Merchan made that they argued unfairly prejudiced the trial.

One was denying testimony from former Federal Election Commission Chairman Bradley Smith, who said he would have testified that the payments to Daniels did not qualify as campaign expenses or donations.

Another decision legal experts have honed in on was Merchan’s instructions to the jury that they did not have to agree on what crime Trump committed in relation to allegedly falsifying business records.

Trump has consistently asserted his innocence.

Following the verdict Trump told reporters, “This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt.”

🚨🚨BREAKING: Donald Trump reacts to the Manhattan jury’s guilty verdict:

“The real verdict will be November 5th by the people.”

“The whole country is being rigged right now. This is being done by the Biden Administration in order to hurt or wound a political opponent.”

“We’ll… pic.twitter.com/fhsRrnd1zE

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) May 30, 2024

“The real verdict is going to be November 5th by the people,” he added.

“It’s okay. I’m fighting for our country. I’m fighting for our Constitution,” Trump said. “This is long from over.”

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Tags:

2024 election, Alvin Bragg, Donald Trump, New York City, Prosecuting Trump, U.S. News

Randy DeSoto

Contributing Journalist

SummaryMore Biographical InformationRecent PostsContact

Randy DeSoto has written more than 3,000 articles for The Western Journal since he began with the company in 2015. He is a graduate of West Point and Regent University School of Law. He is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths" and screenwriter of the political documentary "I Want Your Money."

@RandyDeSoto

Randy DeSoto wrote and was the assistant producer of the documentary film "I Want Your Money" about the perils of Big Government, comparing the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. Randy is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths," which addresses how leaders have appealed to beliefs found in the Declaration of Independence at defining moments in our nation's history. He has been published in several political sites and newspapers.

Randy graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a BS in political science and Regent University School of Law with a juris doctorate.

Birthplace

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Nationality

American

Honors/Awards

Graduated dean's list from West Point

Education

United States Military Academy at West Point, Regent University School of Law

Books Written

We Hold These Truths

Professional Memberships

Virginia and Pennsylvania state bars