Trump found guilty in hush money trial | CNN Politics

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the historic verdict in which a Manhattan jury found former U.S. President Donald Trump guilty of all 34 charges of falsifying business records. This makes Trump the first former president in American history to be convicted of a felony.

🙋 Q&A

[01] Guilty Verdict

1. What were the charges against Donald Trump? Donald Trump was found guilty of 34 charges of falsifying business records. The charges were related to a $130,000 payment made by his former lawyer Michael Cohen to adult film star Stormy Daniels to keep her from speaking out about an alleged affair with Trump before the 2016 election.

2. What is the significance of this verdict?

• This is the first time a former U.S. president has been convicted of a felony.
• Trump is also the first major-party presidential nominee to be convicted of a crime while campaigning for the White House.
• If Trump wins the 2024 presidential election, he would be the first sitting president in history to be a convicted felon.

3. How did Trump respond to the verdict? Trump called the trial "rigged" and "disgraceful," and said "the real verdict is going to be November 5, by the people." He maintained his innocence and vowed to continue fighting.

[02] Legal and Political Implications

1. What are the legal implications of the verdict? The verdict does not legally prevent Trump from being elected president again. It will ultimately be up to voters in November 2024 to decide the significance of the guilty verdict.

2. How did the Biden campaign respond to the verdict? The Biden campaign said the verdict shows "no one is above the law" and that "the threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater." They stressed the importance of defeating Trump at the ballot box in 2024.

3. How did Trump's allies respond to the verdict? Trump's allies, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, called the case a "purely political exercise, not a legal one" and a "shameful day in American history."