Former US President Donald Trump has become the first former American president convicted of felony crimes, he was found guilty of 34 charges related to a scheme to influence the 2016 election illegally through hush money payments to a porn actor who alleged they had sex, Associated Press reports.
The charges stemmed from falsifying business records related to hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels. Trump’s legal team argued the payments were legitimate legal expenses and that his celebrity status made him a target for extortion. The trial featured testimony from key witnesses, including Daniels and Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen, and recordings of Trump discussing hush money deals.
Trump, maintaining his innocence, denounced the trial as rigged and vowed to appeal. Sentencing is scheduled for July 11, raising questions about its impact on his potential nomination as the Republican candidate for the upcoming presidential election. The verdict marks a significant legal blow to Trump, potentially exposing him to prison time and adding complexity to his political ambitions.
