Slate’s jurisprudence editor Jeremy Stahl discusses the historic guilty verdict against former President Trump on all 34 counts in a hush money trial. Topics include courtroom tension, jury reactions, judge's conduct, and the significance of the conviction for upholding the rule of law.
Former President Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts for corrupting the 2016 election through falsifying business records.
The jury's meticulous deliberation over evidence, including the focus on conspiracy, led to Trump's historic guilty verdict.
Deep dives
Trump Found Guilty on 34 Counts
Former President Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts in his Manhattan criminal trial, becoming the first American president to be declared a felon. The jury unanimously concluded that Trump falsified business records to conceal a scheme to corrupt the 2016 election, leading to his conviction as a felon. Various counts related to invoices, ledger entries, and checks were presented in the trial, highlighting the intricate details of the case. Trump's sentencing is scheduled for July 11th, where he could face imprisonment, probation, or home confinement.
Jury's Complex Deliberations and Verdict
The jurors deliberated for nearly 12 hours over two days, carefully considering the evidence presented in the case. Key elements of the jury notes included requests to review David Pecker's testimony and jury instructions concerning the complex nature of the crimes alleged. To elevate the charges to felonies, the prosecution needed to prove the crimes were committed to conceal or commit other unlawful actions, such as violating New York election laws. The focus on conspiracy involving Trump, Michael Cohen, and David Pecker emerged as a pivotal point in the jury's decision-making process.
Impacts of the Conviction and Next Steps
Following Trump's conviction, the sentencing scheduled for July 11th holds significant weight, with each of the 34 counts carrying a maximum penalty of four years in prison. While actual imprisonment may be unlikely due to logistical challenges, severe probation terms and potential home confinement could still alter Trump's future course. An extensive appeals process is expected to follow the sentencing, potentially prolonging any immediate enforcement of the verdict. Despite criticisms of the case's timing and proceedings, Trump's conviction stands as a monumental legal milestone demonstrating accountability and judicial adherence to the rule of law.
In light of late-breaking news, we present this conversation from our colleagues at Amicus:
After six weeks of arguments and testimony and a little under 12 hours of deliberation, a Manhattan jury voted to convict former President Trump of 34 felony counts in his hush money trial. Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Slate’s jurisprudence editor Jeremy Stahl who was in court for the historic guilty verdict and has followed the case over the past six weeks.