Former US president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump looks on at Manhattan Criminal Court during his trial for covering up hush money payments linked to extramarital affairs in New York on April 22, 2024.
The jury found him guilty on each of the 34 counts of falsifying business records to hide a payment meant to silence porn star Stormy Daniels. He could in theory be sentenced to four years behind bars for each count but is more likely to receive probation.The 77-year-old Republican, who was released without bail, is now a felon — a historic and startling first in a country where presidents are frequently described as the most powerful man in the world.
Trump also faces federal and state charges of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election won by Biden, and for hoarding secret documents after leaving the White House.Trump was convicted of falsifying business records to reimburse his lawyer, Michael Cohen, for a $130,000 payment to Daniels on the eve of the 2016 election, when her claim to have had sex with him could have proved fatal to his campaign against Hillary Clinton.
Trump has denied any sexual encounter with Stormy Daniels, but did not testify in his own defense. His lawyers argued that any payments made to the performer were entirely legal.However, he milked the media attention throughout.