Annie Gimbel
New York — Donald J. Trump is the first former president in U.S. history to be convicted of a crime.
Following two weeks of testimony from nearly two dozen witnesses, the New York jury empaneled in the NY v. Trump case found him guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal the reimbursement of his former lawyer Michael Cohen for payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
The reported "hush money" payment happened ahead of the 2016 election.
"This was a disgrace. It was a rigged trial by a judge who was corrupt," said Trump following the verdict. "The real verdict is going to be November fifth by the people. I am fighting for our people. For our country. The whole country is rigged. Our country has gone to hell."
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged the former president. The seven-man, five-woman panel began deliberations May 29.
The presumptive Republican nominee pleaded not guilty and has repeatedly denied any sexual interaction with Daniels. He also argued that the payments to Cohen were correctly designated as legal expenses in company records.
The jury wasn’t sequestered, meaning they were allowed to go home after court each day.
Trump's sentencing date is June 11.
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