Convicted felon… Donald Trump become the first US president convicted of crime

On Thursday, Donald Trump became the first US president to be convicted of a crime, after a New York jury found him guilty of forging documents to conceal a sum of money he paid a porn star in order to buy her silence ahead of the 2016 election.

After two days of deliberations, a 12-member jury found Trump guilty on all thirty-four counts, which required unanimous conviction.

Judge Juan Merchant has set July 11 as the date for the verdict, just days before the Republican National Convention kicks off on July 15, when Trump’s candidacy is expected to be officially announced in the upcoming election.

The ruling puts the United States in an unprecedented position ahead of the November 5 presidential election, as Trump, a Republican, seeks to challenge Democratic President Joe Biden for a return to the White House.

Trump, (77), denies any wrongdoing and is expected to appeal, as he told reporters, “This is a disgrace… The real rule will be for the people on November 5”.

Trump can face up to four years in prison, but sentences for such crimes are often shorter, limited to fines or probation.

Polls point to a close contest between Trump and Biden, (81), and a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that any conviction could reduce support for Trump by independent and Republican voters.

A source familiar with developments in Trump’s campaign said the ruling could prompt him to step up efforts to select a woman as vice president.

The jury convicted Trump of falsifying the documents after a five-week trial that saw the testimony of actress Stormy Daniels, who claimed she had a sexual relationship with Trump in 2006 when he was married to his current wife, Melania, which Trump denies.

Michael Cohen, Trump’s former aide, also testified that Trump agreed to pay $130,000 to buy Daniels’ silence in the final weeks before the 2016 election, when he faced multiple charges of sexual misconduct.

Forgery of business documents is usually classified as a misdemeanor in New York, but prosecutors in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office have filed the charge to a felony, alleging that Trump was hiding an illegal contribution to an election campaign.

The jury in New York convicted the former US president and current Republican candidate Donald Trump of 34 criminal charges related to falsifying first-degree business records.

The verdict ends a trial that lasted for weeks, but opens the door to a new phase in this historic case, and the prosecution said it welcomed the verdict, noting that “the jury has spoken”.

Trump is likely to appeal the ruling, with his lawyer Todd Blanche confirming that the defense team will appeal “as soon as possible,” which could significantly delay the verdict currently scheduled for July 11.

Judge Juan Merchan set the sentencing hearing on July 11.

Merchan could sentence Trump to probation or up to 4 years in prison per charge, up to a maximum of 20 years.

So far, Trump will remain out of jail pending sentencing, and hasn’t been asked to bail.

As for the possibility of appeal, Trump could appeal the ruling, which could delay the proceedings or bring the case to another court that may be more in his favor.

After the verdict, his lawyer Todd Blanche asked the judge to acquit the charges, but the judge rejected the request.

During the trial, Trump’s legal team took steps to ensure his right to appeal the verdict and to consider the judge’s decisions on testimony and evidence that they are expected to appeal in the coming weeks.

On the other hand, Supporters of Trump, outraged by his conviction on 34 criminal charges by a New York jury, flooded the pages of pro-president websites with calls to incite revolution, riots and violent reactions.

After Trump became the first US president to be convicted of a crime, his supporters responded with dozens of posts inciting violence online.

Some Trump supporters called for the jury members to be targeted, while others called for the execution of Judge Juan Merchan, and even calling for civil war and armed rebellion.

The frequency of intimidation and threats of violence increased after Trump lost the 2020 presidential race and claimed that the election was rigged.

During his campaign for a second term in the White House, Trump accused the judges and prosecutors in his trials, without evidence, of being corrupt tools in the hands of President Joe Biden’s administration and aiming to sabotage his bid for the presidency.

His loyalists responded with a campaign of threats and intimidation targeting judges and court staff.