Donald Trump was convicted on all 34 charges in New York, including falsifying business records related to a hush-money payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels.
Trump, who has denied wrongdoing, plans to appeal the verdict, stating, “This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt. This was a rigged trial, a disgrace.”
The process by which the jury reached a verdict of guilt for Trump involved their unanimous decision after deliberating for two days.
- Unanimous decision: A panel of 12 New Yorkers unanimously found Trump guilty after two days of deliberation.
- Charges explained: Trump falsified business records to conceal a hush-money payment to Daniels just before the 2016 election, part of an illegal scheme to deceive voters.
- Felony elevation: The fraudulent accounting was elevated to a felony due to its connection to violating state election laws. Prosecutors argued it aimed to influence the 2016 election outcome by hiding damaging information.
The significance lies in:
- Trump’s conviction marks him as the first criminal former president and felon to be a major political party nominee.
- Democrats may use the conviction in attack ads for the upcoming election, raising questions about Trump’s candidacy and potential presidency.
- Trump plans to appeal, alleging political bias and flaws in the trial.
Will it affect the presidential elections?
- Biden’s campaign sees the verdict as proof that no one is above the law but acknowledges elections determine Trump’s fate.
- Despite the conviction, Trump’s poll numbers remain steady, suggesting minimal impact on his core supporters.
- The conviction’s effect may hinge on Biden’s campaign efforts to highlight it to voters.
Here’s what they’re saying:
- Nicholas Higgins, political scientist, doubts the conviction will sway voters already entrenched in their views.
- Donald Nieman, political analyst, believes the conviction could hurt Trump in a close election.
- Jared Carter, professor, suggests the conviction may energize Trump’s base but alienate independents, pivotal in swing states.
What comes after this:
- The conviction will likely dominate headlines but its impact on the election remains uncertain.
- Both campaigns and voters will react to this unprecedented development in the coming months, potentially shaping the 2024 election.
- Biden’s campaign may play a crucial role in highlighting the conviction’s significance to voters.
