Former U.S. President Donald Trump has made history as the first former president to be convicted. On May 30, a New York jury found him guilty on all counts related to the hush money case involving payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels, intended to keep their alleged affair before the 2016 election a secret. With the election only five months away, Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records, each carrying a potential four-year prison sentence. Although released without bail, the 77-year-old now holds the status of a convicted felon in a nation where presidents are typically viewed as the most powerful individuals in the world.
The decision came after extensive deliberation, with Trump remaining expressionless as the verdict was read. Despite the conviction, he is not legally barred from running for office or serving as president if he wins. Speaking to reporters after leaving the courtroom, Trump denounced the trial as ‘rigged’ and ‘disgraceful,’ asserting,
“The real verdict is going to be November 5th by the people. And they know what happened here, and everybody knows what happened here. You have a Soros-backed DA, and the whole thing, we didn’t do a thing wrong. I’m a very innocent man, and it’s okay, I’m fighting for our country. I’m fighting for our Constitution. Our whole country is being rigged right now.”
In response, his main rival, Joe Biden, has launched fundraising campaigns aimed at countering Trump. Biden’s campaign released a statement underscoring the principle that no one is above the law and highlighted the urgency of stopping Trump and his “MAGA extremist allies,” whom they view as a significant threat to the future of American democracy and the nation.
