Former President Trump was convicted on all 34 counts in a Manhattan courtroom on March 31, 2023.
President Biden condemned Trump's claims of a biased legal system as 'reckless' and 'dangerous'.
Republican allies have called for retribution on Trump's behalf and threats of investigations and subpoenas have been made.
The political fallout from Trump's conviction has been significant, with many questioning the implications for the Republican Party and American democracy as a whole.
This is the first criminal conviction for a former U.S. president.
Trump held a campaign rally at Trump Tower following the verdict.
In a historic turn of events, former President Donald Trump was convicted on all 34 counts in a Manhattan courtroom on March 31, 2023. The verdict came after a hush money trial that saw Trump and his associates accused of falsifying business records. The jury's decision marked the first criminal conviction for a former U.S. president.
President Joe Biden, who has long maintained his silence on Trump's legal woes, broke his silence following the verdict, condemning Trump's claims of a biased legal system as 'reckless' and 'dangerous.' Biden noted that the jurors were selected 'the same way every jury in America is chosen,' and that Trump had 'every opportunity to defend himself.' He also warned against undermining the judicial system after Trump's convictions.
Trump, who has been indicted on multiple charges, held a campaign rally at Trump Tower following the verdict. Republican allies of Trump have called for retribution on his behalf, including demands for testimony from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and attorney Matthew Colangelo. Threats of investigations and subpoenas have also been made.
The political fallout from Trump's conviction has been significant, with many questioning the implications for the Republican Party and American democracy as a whole. Black leaders have called out Trump's criminal justice contradictions, pointing to his previous calls for execution of five Black and Latino teenagers wrongly convicted in a rape case at the same courthouse in 1989.
Despite Biden's call for respecting the legal system, Trump has continued to claim that the verdict was rigged. This comes just days after Biden told his supporters that the Supreme Court could not 'stop' him from carrying out his agenda.
President Biden urged respect for the legal system after Trump’s conviction in New York.
Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payment to Stormy Daniels.
Biden criticized Trump for claiming the verdict was rigged.
Accuracy
Biden had previously stated that the Supreme Court could not stop him from carrying out his agenda despite their ruling against his student debt relief plan.
The Supreme Court blocked Biden’s student debt relief plan in a 6-3 decision last June.
Deception
(30%)
The author, Kyle Morris, uses selective reporting by only mentioning instances where President Biden has criticized Supreme Court rulings and not mentioning any instances where he has praised or respected them. This creates a one-sided narrative that implies Biden does not respect the legal system. Additionally, the author attempts to manipulate emotions by implying that Biden's criticism of the Supreme Court is a threat to democracy.
President Biden took to social media on Friday to claim, "No one is above the law."
Biden has also used Trump's remarks to raise funds for his re-election campaign, claiming in another post on X that Trump "questioned our judicial system."
Fallacies
(75%)
The author, Kyle Morris, commits the fallacy of Hypocrisy by reporting on President Biden's statements about respecting the legal system while also acknowledging Biden's own past criticisms and disregard for Supreme Court rulings. This inconsistency between what Biden says and what he does undermines his credibility on this issue.
President Biden said Friday that the justice system ‘should be respected’ and that it was ‘reckless, it’s dangerous, it’s irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they don’t like the verdict.’ (...)
Biden made similar comments on how the high court’s ruling ‘didn’t stop me.’
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Biden campaign spokesperson James Singer said: ‘Expressing disagreement with a Supreme Court decision – as all Presidents do – is not the same as attacking the rule of law and undermining our judicial system.’
Bias
(85%)
The author, Kyle Morris, demonstrates ideological bias by presenting President Biden's statements about respecting the legal system while contrasting them with former President Trump's claims about the verdict in his trial. The author also highlights how Biden has criticized the Supreme Court for some of its rulings during his tenure. This creates an imbalance in the reporting, as it focuses on negative aspects of Biden's statements and actions, while not providing a similar level of scrutiny for Trump's claims.
President Biden said on Friday that the justice system "should be respected" and that it was "reckless" for former President Donald Trump to claim that the verdict in his New York trial was "rigged,
Former President Donald Trump was the first president to face criminal charges.
Trump held a campaign rally at Trump Tower following the verdict and lashed out at individuals he deemed responsible for his legal peril.
Republican allies of Trump have called for retribution on his behalf, including demands for testimony from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and attorney Matthew Colangelo, as well as threats of investigations and subpoenas.
Accuracy
Former President Donald Trump was convicted by a Manhattan jury on 34 counts, making him the first president to face criminal charges.
Trump continues to claim without evidence that Biden was behind the New York hush money case.
Trump has leveraged his legal troubles to galvanize Republican voters and reach out to new audiences in campaign speeches across the country.
Deception
(30%)
The article contains several instances of emotional manipulation and sensationalism. The author uses phrases like 'bombshell arrived', 'historical moment', 'unprecedented election' to create a sense of urgency and importance around the topic. The author also states that Trump is now a convicted felon, implying that this is a significant negative event for him and his campaign. Additionally, the article reports on Trump's reaction to the verdict without providing any context or analysis, which can be seen as sensationalizing his words and actions.
Trump likened Juan Merchan, the judge overseeing the case, to a ‘devil’ and called the prosecution’s star witness, his former lawyer Michael Cohen, a ‘sleaze bag.’
But now that a verdict has arrived, uncertainty lurks behind every decision.
The hush money case, too, is far from over and will continue to hover over the political season.
The next time former President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally will be his first as a convicted felon.
Unclear, though, is when Trump is planning to take this message on the road.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several instances of inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to authority. Steve Contorno's piece includes examples of dichotomous depictions, with Trump being portrayed as a victim of political persecution while also being described in negative terms by his opponents. The author quotes various figures within the Republican party who express their outrage and support for Trump, which can be seen as an appeal to authority. Additionally, there are examples of inflammatory language used by Trump himself when describing those he deems responsible for his legal troubles.
Trump’s campaign intends to message on his conviction going forward, and it will do so with new firepower.
The former president’s legal team is undecided on whether to ask Merchan to move the date, CNN reported Thursday, leaving the door open for his sentence to become a focal point of the party’s convention messaging.
Trump likened Juan Merchan, the judge overseeing the case, to a “devil” and called the prosecution’s star witness, his former lawyer Michael Cohen, a “sleaze bag.”
Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan... demanded that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Matthew Colangelo... testify next week “about the unprecedented political prosecution of President Trump.”
Vance, during a Friday appearance on Fox News, vowed to “fight back” with investigations of Democrats and their donors and by subpoenaing Merchan and his daughter.
Bias
(80%)
The author expresses a clear bias against Trump and his allies by using language that depicts them in a negative light. The author also quotes others who are critical of Trump and his team, while not providing any counterbalancing quotes from the other side.
But now that a verdict has arrived, uncertainty lurks behind every decision.
CNN — The next time former President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally will be his first as a convicted felon.
Several Republican senators – including vice presidential contenders Marco Rubio of Florida and JD Vance of Ohio – signed a letter signifying they would not work with the Biden administration to pass legislation, confirm his judicial nominees or increase nonsecurity spending.
Trump intends to message on his conviction going forward, and it will do so with new firepower.
Vance, during a Friday appearance on Fox News, vowed to “fight back” with investigations of Democrats and their donors and by subpoenaing Merchan and his daughter.
Trump held a campaign rally at Trump Tower following the verdict
Republican allies of Trump have called for retribution on his behalf
Accuracy
Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payment to Stormy Daniels.
Trump continues to claim without evidence that Biden was behind the New York hush money case.
Trump lambasted the criminal justice system after his conviction despite having previously called for execution of five Black and Latino teenagers wrongly convicted in a rape case at the same courthouse in 1989.
Donald Trump was convicted of felony crimes in a Manhattan court on March 31, 2023.
Trump lambasted the criminal justice system after his conviction despite having previously called for execution of five Black and Latino teenagers wrongly convicted in a rape case at the same courthouse in 1989.
Trump's comments about the Central Park Five case have been criticized as evidence of racial bias in his political career.
Accuracy
Trump continues to claim without evidence that Biden was behind the New York hush money case.
Deception
(30%)
The article contains selective reporting and emotional manipulation. The author quotes several individuals expressing their opinions about Trump's conviction and the Central Park Five case, but fails to provide any counter-opinions or context that might challenge those perspectives. Additionally, the author uses emotionally charged language throughout the article, such as 'notorious examples of injustice,' 'roiled racial tensions locally,' and 'abusive system.' These words are intended to elicit an emotional response from readers rather than providing objective information.
Now the shoe is on the other foot. Donald Trump is the criminal
The former president famously took out a newspaper ad in New York City in the aftermath of the 1989 attack calling for the execution of the accused in a case that roiled racial tensions locally and that many point to as evidence of a criminal justice system prejudiced against defendants of color.
We should be proud that today the system worked.
This is the same building that Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise all passed into, day after day, as they endured a show trial for a crime they did not commit.
Black people are disproportionately the victims of crime. It’s not that they just side with people who’ve been convicted of a crime.
But lately, in his outreach to Black and Hispanic communities, Trump has adopted the language of criminal justice reform advocates. He claims Black Americans and Latinos can relate to him because prosecutors are out to get him like they have been out to get many men and boys in their communities.
But we should be somber that we Americans have an ex-President who has been found guilty on 34 separate felony charges.
Fallacies
(80%)
The author makes an appeal to authority by quoting Maya Wiley and The Rev. Al Sharpton, who are experts in civil rights and criminal justice reform respectively. However, the author also includes their opinions on Trump's conviction being a problem for him with Black people due to his past actions regarding the Central Park Five case.
“Donald Trump’s conviction is going to be a problem for him with many Black people because, guess what, many Black people do not like people who violate our criminal laws.”
“Black people are disproportionately the victims of crime. It’s not that they just side with people who’ve been convicted of a crime.”
President Joe Biden condemned Donald Trump’s claims of a biased legal system as ‘reckless’ and ‘dangerous’,
Trump was convicted of all 34 counts stemming from a hush money case in New York.
Biden noted that the jurors were selected ‘the same way every jury in America’s chosen’,
Trump had ‘every opportunity to defend himself’,
The American principle that no one is above the law was reaffirmed with Trump’s conviction.
Biden warned against undermining the judicial system after Trump’s convictions.
Biden campaign officials plan to use Trump’s convictions as part of their broader narrative about him being a danger to democracy.
Accuracy
Trump had ‘every opportunity to defend himself'
Former President Donald Trump was convicted by a Manhattan jury on 34 counts, making him the first president to face criminal charges.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
The author makes several statements about Trump's assertions being reckless and dangerous without providing any evidence or logical reasoning to support this claim. This can be considered an appeal to emotion fallacy. Additionally, the author uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing Trump's conviction as 'criminal woes' and 'nearly three dozen felony convictions', which is not an accurate representation of the situation as Trump was only convicted on one count related to a hush money payment. This can be considered an exaggeration fallacy.
The former president had every opportunity to defend himself.
It's reckless, it's dangerous, it's irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they don’t like the verdict.
