In a historic turn of events, former President Donald Trump was convicted on all 34 felony counts in his hush money trial on Thursday, May 30, 2024. The conviction marks the end of a six-week long trial and brings about significant implications for the upcoming election. Here's what you need to know.
What Happened? Donald Trump was convicted in a New York courtroom on charges of falsifying business records related to hush money payments made to Stormy Daniels, a porn actor who claimed she had an affair with Trump in 2006. The conviction came after testimony from Michael Cohen, Trump's former attorney and fixer, who admitted to facilitating the payments.
Implications for the Election? The conviction does not bar Trump from continuing his pursuit of the White House. He plans to hold a news conference at 11 a.m. ET on May 31, 2024, and is expected to attend the Republican National Convention on July 18-21, where he will likely be nominated as the party's nominee for president in the November election.
Voting Rights? Despite being convicted of a felony and residing in Florida, Trump can still vote as long as he stays out of prison in New York state. Florida defers to other states' disenfranchisement rules for residents convicted of out-of-state felonies. In Trump's case, New York law only removes the right to vote for people convicted of felonies when they're incarcerated.
Reactions? Trump expressed his disappointment and called the trial 'rigged and disgraceful.' The Republican National Committee is run by his loyalists, including his daughter-in-law Lara Trump as co-chair. There's no evidence of a significant faction within the party trying to replace him on the ticket.
Background? Trump was indicted in August 2023 and pleaded not guilty. The trial began on January 17, 2024, and lasted six weeks. The jury took ten hours to reach their decision.
What's Next? Sentencing is scheduled for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention. Trump also faces three more criminal cases in New York and Georgia related to business dealings and efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.