What Happened Today
- Jurors returned a guilty verdict on all 34 counts at the end of the second day of deliberations. Trial began with jury selection on April 15 and jurors heard five weeks of testimony from 22 witnesses.
- The defense moved for judgment immediately after the verdict, arguing the jury was not allowed to rely solely on Michael Cohen’s testimony. The judge denied the motion.
- Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg held a press conference after the verdict, and said “the jury has spoken.” He would not comment on sentencing and whether prosecutors were seeking jail time for President Trump.
- President Trump told reporters outside the courtroom, “I’m a very innocent man.” He will hold a press conference at Trump Tower on May 31. His attorneys have also said they will appeal.
Partisan reactions to the verdict were swift. Both the Biden and Trump campaigns are now fundraising on the verdict.
Follow the live updates here:
Biden Should Seek Pardon of Trump, Businessman Says
By Janice Hisle
Businessman and “Shark Tank” TV star Kevin O’Leary said “the smart move” for President Joe Biden would be to pardon his political opponent, former President Donald Trump, via the governor of New York.
Doing so “would lift Biden out of the morass that half the country feels it’s politically motivated,” Mr. O’Leary said on Fox News’ “Gutfeld!” Presidents cannot pardon people for state offenses, only federal ones; President Trump was convicted under a New York state law, thus a pardon would require the governor’s involvement.
Mr. O’Leary added that “there are some incredibly complex situations because the whole system has never contemplated an ex-president being a felon or even facing jail time.”
“For example, the Secret Service mandate for the rest of his life is to keep him safe under all conditions,” Mr. O’Leary said. “They will never allow him to go into prison, right? How could they?”
‘Thousands of People Are Donating Right Now,’ Lara Trump Says
By Janice Hisle
Lara Trump, the daughter-in-law of former President Donald Trump and co-chair of the RNC, said his conviction is hurting “the very fabric of our country” and tarnishing the world’s view of America.
In a Fox News interview, she wondered aloud: “How is the rest of the world looking at America right now?”
“They see the same polling that we all see; they see that, by every metric, and in every poll, Donald Trump is beating Joe Biden. They know why this is happening,” Ms. Trump said. “Yet we are supposed to be the pillar of freedom and democracy for the rest of the world to look up to—and look at us tonight. It is shameful to see this.”
Ms. Trump said Americans responded to the conviction so much, “our entire fundraising site crashed.” She said the site, donaldjtrump.com, is back up and running, and “thousands of people are donating right now for Donald Trump who have never once, ever donated to our campaign.”
“That speaks volumes about how the American people are interpreting this,” she said.
Rep. Jordan: Congress ‘Cannot Allow’ Continued Weaponization of Justice System
By Janice Hisle
House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), says a congressional committee exploring the “weaponization” of the federal government, which he also chairs, is determined to continue its work.
“Everything is on the table,” he told Fox News’ Sean Hannity, “because, as many of your guests have said, we cannot allow this to continue in our great country.”
He thinks many Americans believe it’s true when President Trump says “They’re coming after my freedom because I’m fighting for yours,” Mr. Jordan said, “And I think the country sees that even more clear today, and that’s why I think he’s going to win.”
Mr. Jordan said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg initially declined to prosecute President Trump, but the case was resurrected “after President Trump declared he was running for President of the United States… underscoring just how political this whole thing really was.”
Sen. Scott Says Nov. 5 is ‘Day of Reckoning’ for Trump
By Jacob Burg
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who is reportedly on former President Donald Trump’s shortlist for Vice President, spoke with CNN host Abby Phillip after jurors announced their guilty conviction in the Manhattan criminal trial.
The senator called the case a “hoax,” “sham,” and an example of the “weaponization of the justice system against their political opponents.”
“This was devastating for the average American watching,” he added.
Ms. Phillip and Mr. Scott sparred throughout the interview, frequently talking over each other as the host kept pressing Mr. Scott to prove his assertion that President Trump is being politically persecuted via the legal system. Ms. Phillip noted that Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), both Democrats, are currently facing criminal charges.
“I have not heard you talk about a single conviction whatsoever,” Mr. Scott said.
The host also alleged that President Trump said he intends to appoint a special prosecutor to go after President Joe Biden and his “crime family” if he wins in November and asked Mr. Scott if he would support that move.
“President Trump has looked me in my eyes in a room full of other folks and said, ‘You know what? The best revenge is success,’” the senator replied.
“Our voices will be heard loud and clear. And I can guarantee you that the American people, we the people, will be on the side of Donald Trump. Nov. 5 is a day of reckoning.”
‘That is Not Our Country’: Trump Spokesperson
By Janice Hisle
Attorney Alina Habba, legal spokeswoman for former President Donald Trump, decried the conviction.
Ms. Habba told Fox News “It’s not about Trump.” She is concerned about the deterioration of the American justice system, one that would issue gag orders that prevent her and her client from speaking the truth.
“That’s called censorship. That is not our country. We don’t do that. Let Americans vote for who they want,” she said. “And you know what they don’t want. They don’t want what is going on right now, I assure you.”
Ms. Habba said made that assessment based on how she has seen ordinary people react to President Trump. On the day of the verdict, she witnessed “people streaming up and down the streets, waiting to see him, just to give him a thumbs-up.”
“America is under siege in a different way than I ever thought was possible,” she said.
Attorney for Stormy Daniels Says She was ‘Emotional’ After Hearing Guilty Verdict
By Jacob Burg
Clark Brewster, attorney for former adult film actress Stormy Daniels, discussed the guilty verdict in former President Donald Trump’s Manhattan criminal trial on “The Source with Kaitlan Collins.”
The lawyer said Ms. Daniels was “really, really emotional” after she heard that President Trump was guilty on all 34 counts.
“I told her how proud I was that she was able to see this through and come up here and sit two days under examination in a state courthouse that was so obviously watched by the world,” Mr. Brewster added.
He said it would have been “like a half-eaten sandwich if the story never came out” regarding the payments from former Trump lawyer, Michael Cohen, to conceal an alleged affair between Ms. Daniels and the former president.
Ms. Collins asked the lawyer what kind of sentencing Ms. Daniels would find fair for President Trump, but Mr. Brewster replied, “We’ve never discussed that.”
“She would say that would be the judge’s call. He knows the law better than anyone. He knows the case better than anyone, and she would just say that that would be his decision,” Mr. Brewster added.
Trump Conviction Could Be ‘Last Straw’ for Working-Class Americans, Potential VP Pick Says
By Janice Hisle
The verdict against former President Donald Trump “changes nothing” for Americans who are struggling to pay for groceries, gasoline, rent, and electricity, said North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.
Mr. Burgum, a possible running mate for President Trump, told Fox News that those people “know they were better off under President Trump.” Yet “liberals can’t figure out why would people keep supporting Donald Trump even if he’s convicted?”
“The common sense of the working people of America is rising up right now because this is going to be the last straw for some of them,” Mr. Burgum said.
Mr. Burgum said it wasn’t right that prosecutors were able to take a seven-year-old business filing case —a misdemeanor at most—and “somehow magically turn it into 34 felonies.”
He wonders if everyone who has ever done business in New York would be vulnerable to prosecution “if somebody mislabeled a check that went out the door.”
Mr. Burgum suggested that President Trump has been singled out. “It would never happen, except if you’re Donald Trump. So this is like the Soviet-style thing: ‘Show me the person and I’ll show you the crime.’”
Trump Lawyer Says He Expected a Guilty Verdict, Hung Jury Closest ‘to a Win as We Could Have Gotten’
By Jacob Burg
Former President Donald Trump’s defense attorney, Todd Blanche, appeared on the CNN show “The Source with Kaitlan Collins” after jurors handed over the guilty verdict.
Mr. Blanche said, “it remains true that if the word of Michael Cohen was not accepted at all, then you could not have convicted President Trump.”
He told Ms. Collins that the defense team prepared for and “expected” a guilty verdict in the case.
“In our view, we were fighting to win the case, of course, but a hung jury would have been as close to a win, as you know, as we could have gotten,” Mr. Blanche added.
He also applauded the jury for showing up “on time every day” but maintained that President Trump could not have received a fair trial in Manhattan due to the Democratic majority in the city, noting that many jury candidates walked out when asked if they “couldn’t be fair and impartial.”
Mr. Blanche said it was President Trump’s decision not to take the stand during the trial, alleging the judge had decided what questions the former president could answer and how they could complicate the appeals process.
“He reached a decision that he thought was right, which I very much agreed with,” he added.
Mr. Blanche said the defense team plans to file an appeal sometime after the sentencing hearing.
Former Democrat Blames That Party’s ‘Elite’ For Damaging Democracy
By Janice Hisle
Former Democrat presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard, considered a possible running mate for former President Donald Trump, said the consequences of President Trump’s conviction “extend far beyond this case.”
Ms. Gabbard said she is concerned that the Democrats who are currently in power are heading toward destroying American democracy.
Ms. Gabbard said she hopes that Americans see the situation as “a very serious wake-up call.” As a result of the verdict, every American now must “think twice before challenging or opposing or criticizing the political party that’s in power,” she said.
People now need to be concerned about officials using “the levers of the Department of Justice and law enforcement to then come after us.”
“That’s the serious issue that’s at stake here,” she said.
She urged all Americans, regardless of political affiliation, to “take it upon ourselves, to choose freedom to save our country, save our democracy, and punish President Biden and his administration, those who are abusing their power, on November 5 and vote for Donald Trump.”
Elon Musk Objects to Guilty Verdict
By Jackson Richman
Tesla CEO Elon Musk lamented the historic conviction of former President Donald Trump, calling it “troubling.”
“The American people as a whole should decide who is president,” he posted on X, which he owns.
Trump Donation Website Crashes as Cash Pours in After Guilty Verdict
By Tom Ozimek
Minutes after the jury returned a guilty verdict in former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial in New York, an influx of donations to his presidential campaign as an apparent show of support caused his donation page to temporarily become unavailable.
A jury found the former president guilty on May 30 in a case in which President Trump was charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records in order to conceal non-disclosure payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels as part of an attempt to influence the 2016 presidential election in which he was a candidate.
Within minutes of the jury returning the verdict, President Trump’s donation page displayed a 500 error stating “something went wrong,” leading to widespread speculation of a tidal wave of donations underway, possibly out of a combination of support for the former president and outrage at the guilty verdict.
The Trump campaign later confirmed that the page was down due to a torrent of donations.
“The American people see through Crooked Joe Biden’s rigged show trial. So many Americans were moved to donate to President Trump’s campaign that the WinRed pages went down,” the Team Trump account on X said in a post. “We are working on getting the website back online as quickly as possible. Stay strong.”
The page has since gone back up, with the Trump campaign confirming that fact in a follow-up post.
Senate Majority Whip Takes Victory Lap
By Jackson Richman
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) celebrated the historic and unprecedented conviction of former President Donald Trump. He said that “no one is above the law” and was found guilty by a jury of his peers.
“Today’s verdict is another reminder that Donald Trump is unfit for public service. Now, it is up to the American people to decide if he is worthy of the seat behind the Resolute desk in the Oval Office,” he posted on X, previously Twitter.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has yet to speak out about the verdict that occurred in his home state.
Michael Cohen Says ‘Facts Prevailed’ With Trump Guilty Verdict
By Jacob Burg
Michael Cohen, a once attorney for former President Donald Trump and the prosecution’s “star witness” in the Manhattan criminal trial, spoke to NBC’s Rachel Maddow about his reaction to the guilty verdict.
Mr. Cohen said he was not surprised and that he had said “all along that the facts speak for themselves. The documents speak for themselves.”
Mr. Cohen alleged that many “pundits” and TV hosts “couldn’t be further from the truth” regarding their interpretations of the case.
“I just don’t understand how come they don’t see the same things that we’re seeing.”
Mr. Cohen was at the center of the trial, making the payments to former adult film actress Stormy Daniels that triggered the charges. Defense attorneys criticized the use of Mr. Cohen as a witness, as his previous charges include lying to Congress.
Potential Trump VP Pick Tells Frustrated People How to Help Trump
By Janice Hisle
Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) says he has never heard his constituents “so frustrated and so angry at what they’ve seen” as he has after the conviction of former President Donald Trump. They don’t know what to do because Ohio is far away from New York, Mr. Vance, a potential vice presidential pick for President Trump, told Fox News.
He said that although the Manhattan prosecutor and other enemies of President Trump may “have a spring in their step today,” he thinks they will soon see “what they have done has backfired terribly.”
Mr. Vance characterized leftists as power-hungry and said “the only way for us to fight back successfully is to elect Donald Trump in November.”
McConnell Speaks Out
By Jackson Richman
After hours of silence, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) finally spoke out regarding the historic and unprecedented conviction of former President Donald Trump with whom he has had a frosty relationship despite endorsing his 2024 candidacy.
“These charges never should have been brought in the first place. I expect the conviction to be overturned on appeal,” he posted on X, formerly Twitter.
Trump Lawyer Todd Blanche Says Americans Should Be ‘Troubled’ By Convicting ‘Political Leaders’
By Jacob Burg
Former President Donald Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, spoke about his boss’s guilty verdict on Fox News’ “Jesse Watters Primetime,” saying it should not happen in “any jurisdiction in this country.”
“The district attorney says that this type of case is bread and butter, that they do these cases all the time. That is not true. It’s just not true,” he said, taking issue with the conduct being in 2017.
Mr. Blanche said the case was “not fair” and that this is not something the United States “should be doing to its political leaders, past and present.”
“And as somebody who’s running for president and looks like will win—that’s something that people should be troubled with, no matter who you’re going to vote for.”
He added that President Trump’s comments after the verdict were unrehearsed and off-the-cuff, as the former commander-in-chief “needed no counsel.”
“So you’re talking at a man that’s been indicted four times in one year in four different jurisdictions, running for president and winning and still able to just stand there and look at his staff .. and just say, ‘You know what, I got this, let’s go,’” Mr. Blanche said.
Senior Trump Campaign Adviser Slams Verdict
By Jackson Richman
Senior Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller blasted the guilty verdict of former President Donald Trump on 34 counts of falsifying documents related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election.
Appearing on Fox News’ “Jesse Watters Primetime,” Mr. Miller called the decision reflective of America under President Joe Biden being like a “third-world country” in that elections should happen without locking up opponents.
Mr. Miller touted increased fundraising and polling for President Trump amid his legal cases. He said that the Trump campaign “broke the Internet” with campaign contributions pouring in from grassroots and wealthy supporters.
Mr. Miller said that Democrats are “stuck with Joe Biden” amid issues pertaining to the economy, Ukraine, Israel, and the southern border.
“The American people are pretty smart,” he said. “They see right through this.”
Trump Attorney Counters Prosecutor’s Description of Case As Normal
By Janice Hisle
Will Scharf, an attorney for former President Donald Trump, accused District Attorney Alvin Bragg of being dishonest in his description of how President Trump’s case was handled.
Mr. Bragg, in a news conference, declared that the court system handled President Trump’s case “in the same manner as every other case that comes to the courtroom doors.”
Afterward, Mr. Scharf told Fox News: “I think Alvin Bragg just lied to the American people. He insisted repeatedly that this is a normal case brought in the normal course of business for the DA’s office, when that couldn’t be further from the truth.”
“There’s nothing normal about resurrecting dead misdemeanor business records charges from seven years ago, and bringing them against the leading presidential candidate in the country at the height of a presidential election,” Mr. Scharf said. “There’s nothing normal about seeking a wildly unconstitutional gag order against a political candidate, or, for that matter, any defendant.”
Mr. Scharf said he believes the American people will support President Trump even more in the wake of “these injustices that he’s being subjected to by this lawless prosecutor and lawless judge in this lawless New York court.”
As a result of the verdict, “this is one of the darkest days in the American republic,” Mr. Scharf said.
The case is “replete with reversible error,” Mr. Scharf said, “going back to the very first day, continuing through jury instructions; every aspect of this case is ripe for appeal.”
An appeal will be filed as quickly as possible, trusting that “the appellate courts in New York understand the dangerous Pandora’s box that this lawless judgment has opened.” He said the case has ramifications for the entire legal system “if this unjust verdict is allowed to stand.”
“We are actively considering all options that could lead to justice for President Trump here because justice has not been done in this New York courtroom today,” Mr. Scharf said.
As a Convicted Felon, Can Trump Still Run for President?
By Jackson Richman
Can Trump still run for president? Would he be able to serve as president from behind bars? Yes and yes.
The only thing the conviction affects is his right to vote. He is a resident of Florida, where felons are not allowed to vote until they serve their sentence and pay their financial obligations set by the court.
If Trump is elected, there remains the question of whether he can self-pardon. The president has clemency power only for federal cases and therefore will not be able to pardon himself in the New York case. The only one who would have the power to do so is Democrat New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who is critical of him and therefore is unlikely to make that move.
RFK Jr. Says Democrats’ Strategy to Beat Trump in the Courtroom Will ‘Backfire in November’
By Jacob Burg
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. responded to former President Donald Trump’s guilty verdict in a post on the social platform X, calling the decision to put him on trial “profoundly undemocratic.”
“The Democratic Party’s strategy is to beat President Trump in the courtroom rather than the ballot box. This will backfire in November. Even worse, it is profoundly undemocratic,” he said.
Mr. Kennedy explained that the country deserves a president who can win over voters at the polls “without compromising our government’s separation of powers or weaponizing the courts.”
“You can’t save democracy by destroying it first,” he added.
The environmental lawyer alleged that Democrats are afraid to “lose in the voting booth,” so they instead went after President Trump “in the courtroom.”
“I’m also running against President Trump in this election. The difference is I’m challenging him on his record.”
Mr. Kennedy is critical of the former president’s COVID lockdowns, his “atrocious environmental record,” his relationships with corporations and billionaires, “his support for the war machine,” an alleged failure to “root out waste and corruption” in D.C., and the national debt.
“I’ll challenge him on these things, but the Democrats won’t. You know why? Because they pursue the very same policies,” Mr. Kennedy added.
Biden Campaign Asks for Donations After Trump Guilty Verdict
By Jacob Burg
After jurors found former President Donald Trump guilty of all 34 counts in his Manhattan criminal trial, President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign sent out a fundraising text message.
“Despite a jury finding Donald Trump guilty today, there is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot box,” the text read.
President Trump’s campaign website linked to a donation page after the verdict that simply said “political prisoner” on it. Within minutes, the page had crashed from online traffic but was back up shortly after.
The Biden Campaign acknowledged their opponent’s fundraising efforts after jurors revealed the guilty verdict.
“But there is one other certainty—as you read this, Donald Trump’s supporters are fired up and likely setting fundraising records for his campaign.
“That’s money he will use to try to get back into the White House to carry out his threats of revenge and retribution against his political opponents,” the text read.
The campaign wrote that “while the MAGA Right comes to the aid of Trump, Joe Biden—and those who care about democracy—need you.”
The message included a link to a fundraising page and asked for $20 contributions “or whatever you can [donate] today.”
“If you have been waiting for the perfect time to make your first donation to Joe Biden’s reelection campaign, we’re here to tell you today is the day,” the Biden campaign wrote.
Michael Cohen Responds to Jury’s Decision
By Sam Dorman
President Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen, who served as a key witness for the prosecution, reportedly responded by suggesting the verdict important for accountability and the rule of law.
“Today is an important day for accountability and the rule of law,” he said in a text message shared by Politico’s Ben Feuerherd on X. “While it has been a difficult journey for me and my family, the truth always matters. I want to thank my attorneys Danya Perry and Joshua Kolb for their invaluable guidance and support throughout this process.”
Democrat-Backing Venture Capitalist Donates $300,000 to Trump Campaign
By Jackson Richman
Shaun Maguire, a partner at the venture capital firm Sequoia Capital, announced on X, formerly Twitter, that he has made a $300,000 donation to the Trump campaign following the former president’s conviction.
“The timing isn’t a coincidence,” he posted.
This is notable given Mr. Maguire’s history of donating to Democrats.
Prosecutors Won’t Reveal If They Plan to Ask for Trump Prison Sentence
Mr. Bragg did not answer whether he would be requesting a prison sentence for President Trump.
“I did my job. Our job is to follow the facts without fear or favor,” Mr. Bragg said in response to another question. “What I feel is gratitude to be able to work alongside phenomenal public servants who do that each and every day.”
“I did my job, we did our job,” he said. “Many voices out there; the only voice that matters is the voice of the jury, and the jury has spoken.”
Mr. Steinglass let Mr. Bragg speak for him when a reporter asked specifically how he felt, as Mr. Steinglass had argued much of the case.
Trump Announces Press Conference
President Trump will hold a press conference at Trump Tower at 11 a.m. on Friday.
Manhattan DA Holds Press Conference
“First and foremost I want to thank the jury for its service,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said. “Their service is literally the cornerstone of our judicial system. We should all be thankful for the careful attention that this jury paid to the evidence and the law and their time an commitment over these past several weeks.”
“Twelve everyday New Yorkers, and of course our alternates, heard testimony from 22 witnesses including former and current employees of the defendant, media executives, book publishers, custodians of records, and others,” he said. He recapped the records entered into evidence.
“This type of white collar prosecution is core to what we do at the Manhattan District Attorney’s office,” he said, referencing the history of the office.
Former Republican Governor Tells Americans to ‘Respect’ Verdict
Republican Larry Hogan, who served as Maryland’s Governor from 2015 to 2023, told Americans to “respect” the verdict in former President Donald Trump’s Manhattan criminal trial in a post on the social platform X.
“Regardless of the result, I urge all Americans to respect the verdict and the legal process. At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leaders—regardless of party—must not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship,” the former governor said.
“We must reaffirm what has made this nation great: the rule of law.”
Mr. Hogan is currently running for retiring Sen. Ben Cardin’s (D-Md.) seat in the U.S. Senate. Maryland, often considered a Blue state, has two Democratic senators, with Christopher van Hollen Jr. as the other.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) replied to Mr. Hogan’s post, saying he did not “respect this verdict. Nor should anyone.”
Chris LaCivita, a top official for President Trump’s campaign, responded that Mr. Hogan “ended” his Senate campaign with the post.
Trump Defiant on Truth Social
After the verdict, President Trump posted to TruthSocial: “VICTORY ON NOVEMBER 5TH. SAVE AMERICA!!!”
He also posted a video showing him walking down a hall with tense music playing. A voiceover from him predicted he and his supporters would “demolish the deep state, we will expel the war mongerers from our government, we will drive out the globalists, we will cast out the communists, marxists, and fascists.”
Trump Launches ‘Political Prisoner’ Fundraising Appeal
Within minutes of his New York criminal conviction being announced, former President Donald Trump issued a campaign-fundraising appeal portraying himself as a “political prisoner.”
In a post to his Truth Social platform, the silhouetted image of Trump with a fist pumping in the air appeared under that headline, with the message: “Support Trump” at the bottom.
When users clicked on the link, however, an error message showed up, indicating that the fundraising site had apparently crashed because of so much traffic.
White House Weighs in on Trump Verdict
The White House broke its silence and commented on the Trump verdict with a brief statement.
“We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment,” White House Counsel’s Office spokesperson Ian Sams said on social media platform X.
Law Professor Believes ‘Case Will Be Reversed’
George Washington University Law Professor Jonathan Turley said on X that he thought the verdict would be reversed.
“I obviously disagree with this verdict as do many others. I believe that the case will be reversed eventually either in the state or federal systems,” he said.
“However, this was the worst expectation for a trial in Manhattan. I am saddened by the result more for the New York legal system than the former president. I had hoped that the jurors might redeem the integrity of a system that has been used for political purposes.”
Attorneys responded after the verdict. Criminal defense attorney Keith Johnson told The Epoch Times: “It’s a historic verdict for this country.”
“Mr. Trump’s attorneys will argue that the sentence is typically probation for this type of offense. Mr. Trump will certainly appeal the verdict, however, that will not be an immediate resolution. The key issue is whether the sentence will require the former president to have his travel restricted through home confinement or some other restrictive measure imposed by the court.”
Former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti said on X that “Donald Trump’s legal team lost a very winnable case.”
“They lost because they adopted a Trumpian strategy, attacking everyone and denying everything,” he added.
Dershowitz: ‘A terrible day for the rule of law’
Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz criticized the Trump defense for not raising issues he said it should have during the trial. “This was not a well-tried case by the defense,” he said on Rumble.
He described the verdict day as “sad” for the country. “We’re not China and we’re not Iraq, but we’re close to some of the countries in South America.” He suggested that the legal system would be used corruptly to punish political opponents.
Mr. Dershowitz, who said he voted for President Biden, said President Trump was convicted of non-crimes.
“There’ll be a strong appeal,” Mr. Dershowitz said, before stating that he wouldn’t take the case if President Trump called him. The conviction, he said, should be reversed but it’s not clear if it would be. The likelihood of Supreme Court review, he said, was “slight.” Also, chances of Supreme Court reversing before the election were “virtually non-existent.”
“There are so many reversible errors in this case,” he said.
He also commented on Mr. Cohen’s role in the trial. “There’s no way around believing Michael Cohen and getting a conviction,” he said.
Man in Trump Hat Surrounded, Taunted
A man wearing a Trump 2024 hat in the park across from the courthouse was completely surrounded as he yelled defensively, and the crowd is taunting him.
Signs of all sorts were raised in the park.
Tucker Carlson Says Verdict Won’t Hurt Trump’s Election Chances
Tucker Carlson, a former Fox News host, said in a post on the social platform X that the guilty verdict in former President Donald Trump’s Manhattan criminal trial won’t hurt his election chances “if he’s not killed first.”
“Import the Third World, become the Third World. That’s what we just saw,” Mr. Carlson said.
“This won’t stop Trump. He’ll win the election if he’s not killed first. But it does mark the end of the fairest justice system in the world. Anyone who defends this verdict is a danger to you and your family,” the anchor added.
Battleground Voters React
CANTON, Mich.—Krishna Gogi, 23, and Rishi Pammi, 21, of Canton, Mich., both university students, were only vaguely aware that President Donald Trump was standing trial and had no reaction to the verdict. “I’ve lost confidence in both parties,” Mr Gogi told The Epoch Times, “especially with everything that’s happened in Palestine.”
Both men said they will vote for neither major candidate in November. “I’d rather have my voting power go to something I believe in,” Mr. Pammi said.
On hearing the news of President Trump’s conviction, Hazel Gomez of Detroit wanted to read more details before giving a reaction. “This feels like an odd election year,” she told The Epoch Times. “We’re not being engaged by either party. I pray the presidency will be taken seriously.”
Judiciary Republicans Blast Verdict
Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee criticized the verdict, describing the trial as a “sham.”
“This is a dark day for America,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said on X. “This entire trial has been a sham, and it is nothing more than political persecution. This disgraceful decision is legally baseless and should be overturned promptly on appeal. Any judge with a modicum of integrity would recognize that this entire trial has been utterly fraudulent.”
Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) both described the case as dangerous. “This ‘trial’ has been from beginning to end a complete and total sham, a mockery of the criminal justice system, and one of the most dangerous abuses of our political process in American history,” Mr. Hawley said.
Mr. Lee called the case a “political prosecution to held Joe Biden.”
Meanwhile, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), a Democrat on the committee, posted briefly: “Boom.”
Biden Campaign Reacts to Trump’s Guilty Verdict
The Biden campaign issued a statement following today’s verdict.
“In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law,” Biden-Harris 2024 Communications Director Michael Tyler said in the statement.
“Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain. But today’s verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president.”
The White House has not responded to a request for comment regarding the verdict.
DA Announces Press Conference
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg will hold a press conference on the case at 6:30 p.m.
Sen. J.D. Vance: Trump Verdict ‘Disgrace to the Rule of Law’
Prosecutors alleged that former President Donald Trump committed election interference in the actions that led to his Manhattan criminal trial. But after jurors handed a guilty verdict for all 34 counts, Sen. J.D. Vance called the case itself “election interference” in a post on the social platform X.
“This decision is a disgrace to the rule of law and our Constitution,” the senator said.
“Dems invented a felony to ‘get Trump,’ with the help of a Soros-funded prosecutor and a Biden donor Judge, who rigged the entire case to get this outcome.”
Mr. Vance is also reportedly one of several names on President Trump’s short list for Vice President picks.
Huge Turnout at Park Across Courthouse
Supporters and bitter foes of President Trump milled about in the park outside 100 Center St. under a heavy police and court officer presence.
The mood is animated but people are calm and mostly talking in normal voices. The police have taken no chances since this historic trial began, turning out in overwhelming force in and around the court building.
Democrats Celebrate Trump Guilty Verdict
Democrats took a victory lap over the unprecedented conviction of former President Donald Trump on May 29.
After more than 11 hours of deliberation, 12 jurors reached the unanimous verdict in the case at Manhattan Criminal Court, convicting the presumptive GOP presidential nominee on 34 first-degree counts of falsifying business records related to a payment he made to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election.
While GOP lawmakers expressed anger over the verdict, posting on X, formerly Twitter, Democrat members celebrated President Trump becoming a felon.
“Donald Trump is a convicted felon. This verdict is not a win for any single person. It’s a win for an idea. The idea that we all follow the same rules. The rule of law won today,” posted Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.).
“Today, our legal system worked as intended. A jury of Trump’s peers, everyday Americans, weighed evidence & found him guilty of falsifying business records to keep voters in the dark in 2016. This goes to the heart of our justice system & our democracy: no one is above the law,” posted Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.).
“No one should be above the law in America, and today’s verdict is an affirmation of that important principle,” posted Rep. Dwight Evans (D-Pa.).
Sen. Rand Paul Calls Verdict ‘Sad Day for America’
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) was not happy about the verdict in former President Donald Trump’s Manhattan Criminal trial, calling it a “sad day for America” minutes after finding out the former commander-in-chief was found guilty of all 34 counts.
“How long can our Republic survive once partisans have taken over the judicial process?” the senator asked in a post on the social platform X.
“This verdict will tragically undermine Americans’ confidence in impartial justice. A sad day for America.”
President Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., called the verdict “such [expletive].”
“Guilty on all counts. The Democrats have succeeded in their years-long attempt to turn America into a third-world [expletive]hole. November 5 is our last chance to save it,” Mr. Trump said in a post on X.
Speaker Mike Johnson: ‘Shameful Day in American History’
In a statement on X, previously Twitter, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), lamented and railed against the unprecedented conviction of former President Donald Trump.
“Today is a shameful day in American history. Democrats cheered as they convicted the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges, predicated on the testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon. This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one.
“The weaponization of our justice system has been a hallmark of the Biden administration, and the decision today is further evidence that Democrats will stop at nothing to silence dissent and crush their political opponents.
“The American people see this as lawfare, and they know it is wrong—and dangerous. President Trump will rightfully appeal this absurd verdict—and he WILL WIN!”
Rep. Jordan Calls Verdict ‘Travesty of Justice’
Right after the jury reached a guilty verdict, finding former President Donald Trump guilty of all 34 counts, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) called the decision a “travesty of justice” in a post on the social platform X.
“The Manhattan kangaroo court shows what happens when our justice system is weaponized by partisan prosecutors in front of a biased judge with an unfair process, designed to keep President Trump off the campaign trail and avoid bringing attention to President Biden’s failing radical policies,” Mr. Jordan said.
The Ohio Republican added that Americans would “see through Democrats’ lawfare tactics” and that President Trump would be “vindicated on appeal.”
Crowd Descends on Courthouse
A crowd has descended on the courthouse where President Trump was on trial.
Pro-Trump and anti-Trump demonstrations are underway.
Trump Speaks Out
“This was a disgrace, this was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt,” President Trump said outside the courtroom.
“This was a rigged, disgraceful trial. The real verdict is going to be November 5 by the people and they know what happened here and everyone knows what happened here,” he said.
“We didn’t do a thing wrong,” he said. “I’m a very innocent man.”
“And it’s OK. I’m fighting for our country, I’m fighting for our Constitution,” he said.
“This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound or hurt a political opponent,” he said. “And I think it’s just a disgrace. We’ll fight it, we’ll fight to the end and we’ll win.”
“This was a rigged decision right from day one with a conflicted judge who should have never been allowed to try this case,” he said.
He did not take questions.
Sentencing Scheduled for July 11
“We will sentence July 11,” Justice Merchan said.
“If there are going to be any motions filed, I direct the defense to file the motions no later than June 13, that would be two weeks from today.”
The judge asked about bail status and Mr. Blanche answered there is no bail.
Judge Denies Trump Motion
“Your motion is denied,” Justice Merchan told the defense.
Lawyers are now conferring with the judge.
“Your Honor, we would ask for a date for sentencing some time in mid to late July,” Mr. Blanche said. “President Trump faces charges in other jurisdictions and in the case in Florida there is a three-day scheduling hearing in late June.”
“We would respectfully request a date some time in mid to late July,” he said.
Trump Attorney Moves for Judgment
“We’re moving for judgement,” Mr. Blanche said. “There’s no basis and there’s no way this jury could have reached a verdict without accepting the testimony of Mr Cohen.”
“There is no reason that the court should allow a verdict knowing that a witness necessarily who to be party to a crime and offense should be used to convict President Trump. There is no evidence that had any connection to the charged offense and President Trump, and the only connection is Michael Cohen.”
Mr. Steinglass urged the judge to deny the motion.
Trump Stoic as Jurors Deliver Verdict
President Trump is sitting still, looking stoic.
He and his lawyers stood up, and the judge said they could remain seated, but it appears the attorneys are making a motion.
Jurors Individually Affirm Verdict
The jurors are now being polled individually to affirm that this is their verdict and it is unanimous.
The judge thanked the jurors, saying he has observed them throughout the trial and they have worked hard and spent a lot of time away from their families.
Foreperson States Guilty Verdict for 34 Counts
The jury foreman is reading the jury’s decision for each of the 34 counts.
“Guilty,” he said, responding to a court officer, count by count, for all 34 counts.
Jurors Poised to Deliver Verdict
“All rise,” Justice Merchan said before rereading the note from earlier.
President Trump was in discussion with defense attorney Emil Bove before the judge returned to the courtroom.
Trump Stoic After Announcement
Defense attorney Todd Blanche whispered to President Trump, who sits still, looking stoic.
Now President Trump is saying something to his attorney.
Trump Stoic as He Awaits Verdict
Defense attorney Todd Blanche whispered to President Trump, who sits still, looking stoic.
Now President Trump is saying something to his attorney.
Jury Has Verdict, Requests More Time
Justice Merchan announced jurors have a verdict, and requested more time so as to deliver it today, going over 4:30 p.m.
“We the jury have a verdict. We would like an extra 30 minutes to fill out the forms. Would that be possible?” the jury foreperson wrote in a 4:20 p.m. note read by the judge.
The judge announced a break.
Trump Returns to Courtroom
A reporter asked President Trump “are you nervous about a verdict?” as he returned to the courtroom.
“I want to campaign,” he said to the press.
Inside the courtroom, the judge said he was going to dismiss jurors at 4:30 p.m.
Trump Says He Should Be Campaigning
As the jury deliberates, President Trump is still required to appear in court rather than go on the campaign trail. Meanwhile, he has been posting to his Truth Social account throughout the day.
“Very unfair that I am not being allowed to Campaign. Crooked Joe Biden Witch Hunt. Third World Country!!!” reads one post. In another, he criticized the jury instructions as “misleading” and “confusing” for jurors as they have already requested a readback.
Spokesperson: Trump ‘Not Easily Intimidated’
Trump legal spokesperson Alina Habba answered reporters’ questions outside the courthouse as deliberations continued.
“Does he hate being here? I don’t think anybody likes being held up in court. Is he nervous? No, President Trump is used to this,” said Ms. Habba, who is not representing President Trump as legal counsel in this case. “This is unfortunately not something anybody can handle, but he can. And I think that’s why he was president. I think he’s not easily intimidated, and frankly we need more of that in this country.”
“I don’t think anybody wants to be convicted of anything, but he’s positive, he’s resilient, and he’s really just focused on the campaign and what he’s going to do when he gets out of here in this mess that they’ve held us up into,” she said.
Ms. Habba suggested that political opponents of President Trump’s are not after a conviction that will hold, but “soundbites.”
“Now I’ve been doing this long enough to understand it, they just want to be able to say that he was a ‘convicted felon,’” Ms. Habba said.
She then criticized President Joe Biden for agreeing to a debate without a live audience, “where nobody can see who’s in his ear.”
Ms. Habba argued that this case was passed on by prosecutors twice before it was brought back by the district attorney.
“The only time they brought this case was very simply when President Trump said, I am running for presidency, that’s it,” she said.
She argued that all the criminal cases against President Trump have been falling apart.
“They can try and rush things, but the American people are going to see, with time … don’t look at the verdicts we get, wait. We will go on appeal, we will see, show them, because at this level we have a corruption. We have judges that are donating to campaigns, we have a corruption like I’ve never seen before in my life, and it permeates even juries because they choose the instructions, they hear the evidence the judge allows it,” she said.
Deliberations Continue
“Jurors, I believe that completes the readback. Does that respond to your notes?” Justice Merchan asked. “OK, I’ll excuse you to continue your deliberations.”
Readback: Cohen on Trump Tower Meeting
Mr. Cohen had testified that Mr. Pecker was told, “Anything negative that comes, you let Michael know and we’ll handle it.” He affirmed that AMI showed him some of the articles they planned to run as well.
Clerks concluded reading back the requested testimony.
Readback: Pecker on Purchasing Trump Stories
Mr. Pecker said it had been his understanding that he would notify Mr. Cohen about negative stories when he found they were up for sale.
“I said to Michael Cohen that after paying for the doorman story and the Karen McDougal story that I wasn’t going to buy anything further and I wasn’t a bank,” Mr. Pecker said. “I told Dylan Howard that there is no possible way I would buy the story for $120,000 and I didn’t want to have anything to do with a porn star.”
“Based on our mutual agreement back in August 2015, any stories concerning Mr. Trump that would be very embarrassing, I would want to communicate them to Michael Cohen right away. If he heard about them some other way, he would go ballistic,” Mr. Pecker said.
Readback: Pecker Cross-Examined About Trump Tower Meeting
Mr. Pecker was also cross-examined by defense attorney Emil Bove about the meeting, and affirmed that he initially told prosecutors the meeting was during the first week of August, and made a mistake because Mr. Trump would have been at a debate.
“I thought that, I didn’t know the exact date, I knew it was the first half of August,” Mr. Pecker said.
“I don’t mean to put you on the spot. these things happened a long time ago, right? And even when you’re doing your best, and I’m sure you are now, it’s hard to remember what happened when, right?” Mr. Bove asked.
“Yes,” Mr. Pecker said.
“And you fill in some details to keep things in sequence and make them sound logical?” Mr. Bove asked.
“It was my best recollection of what happened at the time,” Mr. Pecker said.
Mr. Pecker affirmed that by the time of the meeting, National Enquirer had already been running stories about the Clintons.
He confirmed he was asked to tell prosecutors everything about the events listed in a non-prosecution agreement, during a July 2018 meeting, and he told them about the Trump Tower meeting but had not mentioned Ms. Hicks’s presence at the time.
Readback: Pecker on Trump Tower Meeting
Attorneys also read back Mr. Pecker’s testimony concerning a 2015 meeting at Trump Tower where Mr. Pecker, Mr. Cohen, and Mr. Trump were present.
Hope Hicks, an aide who would later be communications director for the Trump Campaign, was in and out of that meeting, Mr. Pecker said.
“I received a phone call from Michael Cohen telling me that the boss wanted to see me,” Mr. Pecker said. “Most of the time I received a call from Michael Cohen, he wanted something. So I assumed I was going to be asked for something. I didn’t know what it was before I got there.”
Mr. Pecker said at the start of the meeting, he was asked what he and his magazines could do to “help the campaign.”
“I said I would run and publish positive stories about Donald Trump, and I would publish negative stories about his opponents. And I said I would be his eyes and ears because I know the Trump Organization had a very small staff,” Mr. Pecker said. “I would notify Michael Cohen and he would then be able to have and kill the stories.’
Mr. Pecker was asked how the topic of women came up.
“During a presidential campaign, I was the person who thought there would be a number of them who would come out and try to tell their stories, because Mr. Trump was known as the most eligible bachelor,” Mr. Pecker said. “It was very common for these women to call up a national magazine like the Enquirer and try to sell their stories.”
He was asked if the topic of Bill and Hillary Clinton came up.
“Yes. Hillary running for president, Bill Clinton’s womanizing, was one of the biggest sales I had in the National Enquirer or any of the other tabloids,” Mr. Pecker said. “It was easy for me to say that I’m going to continue running those type of stories for the National Enquirer. I think it was a mutual benefit. It would help his campaign and it would help me.”
Prosecutors then asked, “now that part of the deal where they would buy negative information about Mr. Trump, how did that help the National Enquirer? That part didn’t have a mutual benefit, that part was to help the campaign?”
“Yes,” Mr. Pecker said.
He confirmed the agreement was not put into writing. “It was just an agreement among friends,” he said.
“How long did that meeting last?” Mr. Steinglass had asked Mr. Pecker.
“Twenty to 25 minutes,” Mr. Pecker said. “we had our agreement that anything I heard in the marketplace that was going to be negative to Mr. Trump, his family, or his campaign, I was going to notify Michael Cohen immediately.”
Readback: Pecker Refusal to Sell Cohen Rights to McDougal Story
Prosecuting attorney Joshua Steinglass read back the cross-examination of Mr. Pecker from later in his testimony.
Mr. Pecker testified that in the first week of October 2016 he called Mr. Cohen to break off a deal wherein Mr. Cohen would, through an LLC, purchase the life rights to Ms. McDougal’s story.
“It was a bad idea and I want you to rip up the agreement,” Mr. Pecker said he told Mr. Cohen. “He was very upset, screaming at me. Michael Cohen said, the boss is going to be very angry at you. I said I’m sorry, I’m not going forward, the deal is off. He said I don’t understand, I’m a lawyer, I’m your friend, I don’t understand why you are so concerned.”
Mr. Pecker testified that AMI was never reimbursed for purchasing the story.
He affirmed on cross-examination that an agreement was prepared and signed by Mr. Pecker and Mr. Cohen concerning the transfer of the life rights of the story, and before money changed hands he conferred with counsel and decided the deal was off.
Readback: Pecker Phone Call With Trump
Prosecuting attorney Susan Hoffinger read back testimony by Mr. Pecker.
“Did you ever come to believe that Michael Cohen had spoken with Mr. Trump about Ms. McDougal’s claims?” he was asked.
“Yes I did,” Mr. Pecker testified. “He said he told me about Karen, and he said what do you think?”
“It’s my understanding that she doesn’t want her story published,” he testified. “Mr. Trump said to me, ‘Don’t buy any stories.’ So I said, ‘I still believe that we should take the story off the market, and he said, let me think about it, and I’ll have Michael Cohen call you back in a few days.”
Prosecutors asked how the call came in.
“I was making a presentation,” Mr. Pecker testified. “And the assistant called me into the conference room and said there is a call for you from Donald Trump. And I left and took the call.”
Prosecutors had asked him if Mr. Trump referred to Ms. McDougal as a nice girl.
“I believe that when Mr. Trump said that to me over the phone, that she was a nice girl, I believe she knew who he was,” Mr. Pecker said.
“I believed the story was true. It would have been very embarrassing to his campaign.”
The call took place in June 2016. Mr. Pecker had testified that Mr. Trump had asked whether it was true that a Mexican media group had put in a $8 million bid for the story, and Mr. Pecker did not believe that was true. He had told Mr. Trump to buy the story and take it off the market and testified that “Mr. Trump said I don’t normally buy stories because it always gets out.”
He urged Mr. Trump to purchase the story again, and Mr. Trump said he would speak with Mr. Cohen and then get back to Mr. Pecker.
Judge Repeats Instructions for Jurors
Justice Merchan read back portions of his instructions from yesterday.
He explained that the Wall Street Journal articles were introduced to provide context, not as proof of the defendant’s guilt or innocence, and other evidence introduced was hearsay. He said the National Enquirer headlines and certain invoices were entered into evidence “for the limited purpose” of establishing that the articles were published and the documents were created.
He repeated instructions on the presumption of innocence, burden of proof, requirement of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, and the fact that jurors cannot read into President Trump not testifying.
The judge also repeated instructions on evaluating witness testimony for credibility.
“If a witness has made such inconsistent statements or omissions, you may consider to what extent they affect the truthfulness of testimony here at trial,” the judge said.
He also repeated the charges and definitions for terms like “enterprise” and “intent” used in the charges.
The roughly 30 pages of instructions took close to 30 minutes.
Judge Approves Readback of Transcript for Jury
Justice Merchan said there were disputed portions of the transcript but not very many, and approved them to be read back to jurors.
The jury had yesterday afternoon requested to review portions of National Enquirer publisher David Pecker’s testimony about a phone call with Mr. Trump and about his decision not to fund the life rights agreement for Karen McDougal’s story, as well as testimony by Mr. Pecker and Mr. Cohen about the 2015 Trump Tower meeting.
The jury requested that Justice Merchan repeat instructions about how evidence should be reviewed before the readback.
Justice Merchan also added for the record that the evidence laptop the jury is using does not have WiFi capabilities.
‘Here We Go Again’: Trump
“Here we go again. Five weeks I’ve been here, I’m gagged, I’d like to answer all of your questions but I’m gagged so I can’t talk as much as I would like to,” President Trump told reporters before heading into the courtroom.
He read from new op-eds published about his case, and claimed the Clinton campaign did worse things during the 2016 election.
He also made a passing comment about his civil fraud case appeal, saying the judge who ruled against him would be overturned on appeal.
What to Know
Jurors are entering the second day of deliberations today in the trial of former President Donald Trump.
Yesterday, New York Supreme Court Justice Merchan gave procedural and legal instructions to the jury lasting more than an hour. Hours later, jurors made a request to re-hear the instructions, as well as for a readback of some witness testimony.
The jury has no set timeline to deliver their verdict, but any decision they make will need to be unanimous.
From The Epoch Times