Trump trial: Biden calls Trump's remarks 'dangerous'

Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony counts in his hush money trial.

Former President Donald Trump has been found guilty on all 34 felony counts related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. It marks the first time in history that a former U.S. president has been convicted on criminal charges.

Trump last April pleaded not guilty to a 34-count indictment charging him with falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen made to Daniels in order to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.

Top headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
May 30, 5:36 pm

Trump guilty on all 34 counts

PHOTO: Illustration
People of the State of NY v Donald J Trump - Guilty on All counts.
ABC News

May 29, 2024, 6:19 PM EDT

Trump, exiting court, rails against charges

Former President Trump, exiting the courtroom, again claimed to reporters that no one knows the crime he's been charged with.

"Nobody knows what the crime is. The DA didn't name the crime. They don't know what the crime is," Trump falsely claimed, despite District Attorney Alvin Bragg reading all 34 counts during Trump's arraignment last year and the judge in the case reviewing each one during jury instructions yesterday.

Former President Donald Trump speak to members of the media at Manhattan criminal court in New York, May 29, 2024.
Yuki Iwamura/via Reuters

"It's a disgrace," Trump said of the case. "This thing ought to be ended immediately. The judge ought to end it to save his reputation."

-Kelsey Walsh

May 29, 2024, 5:26 PM EDT

Court ends for day after judge says he'll mull requested testimony

Prosecutor Josh Steinglass walked Judge Merchan through each of the disputed portions of the transcript regarding the 2015 Trump Tower meeting, detailing the page and line number for each disputed portion that the jury had requested be read back.

For some of the portions, defense attorney Todd Blanche expressed concern about providing too much information -- not just regarding the topic of the meeting but its repercussions -- while Steinglass argued that some of the testimony could create confusion for the jury.

"This issue is both confusing and difficult to correct," Steinglass said.

Merchan said that "for the sake of time," he would take the transcript with him after the proceedings conclude and make a decision.

Told about about another dispute, Merchan said, "I will take this with me into chambers and let you know what I think."

He then stepped off the bench and told the parties he would see them at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow.

Trump rose from his seat, looking tired, and exited the courtroom with his entourage.

May 29, 2024, 5:12 PM EDT

Merchan returns to help sort out requested testimony

Judge Merchan returned to the bench to check on how the search for the jury's requested readback material was coming.

"Where do we stand?" the judge asked.

Prosecutor Josh Steinglass said there were a "few outstanding issues" requiring Merchan's intervention.

Steinglass said the parties were in agreement about three of the four requests, but disagreed over the relevant portion of the transcript regarding David's Pecker's testimony about the 2015 Trump Tower meeting.

Steinglass said the lawyers disagreed over whether the jury should hear a portion of Pecker's testimony regarding what he relayed about the meeting to then-National Enquirer editor Dylan Howard.

"We tried to draw a line between the substance of the meeting and the execution," Steinglass told the judge.

"I can see why Mr. Blanche has some concerns about most of this," Merchan said after reviewing that portion of the transcript himself.

May 29, 2024, 4:59 PM EDT

Search for readback material continues

Prosecutors Josh Steinglass and Susan Hoffinger, and defense attorneys Todd Blanche and Emil Bove continued to hash out the relevant portion of the transcript for tomorrow's readback as requested by the jury.

After spending about half an hour in his waiting area, Donald Trump returned to the courtroom.

He entered alongside his son Don Jr. and took a seat at the defense table as the attorneys continued to pore over the material.

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