Trump Found Guilty on All Charges in Hush Money Trial 🎭
In a historic turn of events, former U.S. President Donald Trump was found guilty on all charges in a hush money trial on Thursday. This marks the first time ever that a former president has been convicted of a crime in the United States. 😲
A jury in New York City convicted Trump, 77, on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. The charges stem from a $130,000 hush money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels back in 2016, just before the presidential election. Talk about drama! 🎬
Judge Juan Merchan has set the sentencing date for July 11, just days before the Republican Party is set to nominate its presidential candidate for the upcoming November 5 election. Timing couldn't be more intense! ⏰
Despite the verdict, Trump has proclaimed his innocence, calling the trial a \"disgrace\" and insisting that it was rigged against him. His legal team has already announced plans to appeal the decision as quickly as possible. 🚨
\"This was a disgrace,\" Trump told reporters after the verdict, standing firm on his claims of innocence. The former president was released without bail and will not face jail time until sentencing. 💼
The trial featured explosive testimony from Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford. She detailed her alleged 2006 encounter with Trump in graphic terms, adding fuel to the already blazing fire. 🔥
Prosecutors argued that the hush money payment and its cover-up were part of a larger scheme to influence the 2016 election by hiding damaging information from voters. Trump's defense countered by saying that \"trying to influence an election\" is just \"democracy\" in action. 🗳️
The felony charges carry a maximum sentence of four years in prison, but it's possible that Trump could receive a lighter sentence, such as probation or fines. Even if incarcerated, he could still legally campaign and hold office if elected. 🇺🇸
This verdict throws the U.S. political landscape into uncharted territory as the November election approaches. With President Joe Biden and Trump neck-and-neck in the polls, the coming months are sure to be turbulent. 🌪️
Biden's campaign commented, \"No one is above the law,\" emphasizing the significance of the verdict. They added that \"the threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater.\" 💬
If Trump were to win the presidency again, he wouldn't be able to pardon himself from this conviction since it was brought by the state of New York, not the federal government. Only the governor of New York could grant a pardon in this case. 🛑
With other legal battles looming for Trump, this conviction is likely to play a significant role in his campaign and the nation's future. Buckle up, everyone—it's going to be a wild ride! 🎢
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
