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.

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Here's how the news is developing.
May 30, 2024, 5:36 PM EDT

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 30, 2024, 3:49 PM EDT

Reporters, court staff quietly wait in courtroom

As the jury continues its deliberations, the courtroom is quiet except for the clacking of reporters' keyboards.

Trump and his attorneys are in a separate waiting area, as are attorneys with the DA's office. That leaves about 60 reporters waiting in the quiet courtroom, where four court officers are enforcing a "no talking" rule.

One court officer sits at a desk by the bell that the jury rings when they want to contact the court. Two court reporters sit in the corner of the room near the witness stand, with their three-foot stack of paper transcripts looming behind them.

On the right side of the gallery, four sketch artists continue to work. It’s unclear what they are drawing.

May 30, 2024, 2:55 PM EDT

Jury foreman is immigrant from Ireland who works in sales

During this morning's testimony readbacks, the courtroom heard the voice of the jury foreman, who told Judge Merchan the jury wanted to hear "instructions first," then later replied in the affirmative when Merchan asked if the jury's requests had been satisfied.

The person selected to be the foreman on Trump's jury -- chosen by default due to being selected as Juror No. 1 -- is a male New Yorker who has worked in sales for nearly three decades. Originally from Ireland, he previously worked as a waiter.

The foreman is also one of just two known immigrants in the group -- the other being from Lebanon.

Regarding his education, Juror No. 1 said during the jury selection process that he attended "some college." The jury as a whole includes seven members with advanced degrees, plus another juror who also said they attended "some college."

Juror No. 1 said he had never served on a jury before, and that he gets his news from The New York Times, Fox News, and MSNBC.

Asked during voir dire by prosecutors if he would have a problem with the concept of "accessorial liability" -- that is, holding Trump responsible for something his partners did -- Juror No. 1 said he wouldn't.

"None at all," he replied.

Later, he was asked by Trump's attorney Todd Blanche for his "positive or negative" opinion of the fact that there are charges against Trump.

"I don't have an opinion at all," he said.

May 30, 2024, 12:53 PM EDT

Court recesses for lunch

Court recessed for lunch, with the jury continuing their deliberations.

Under the rules of the court, no notes were to come from the jury during the hour-long lunch break.

May 30, 2024, 12:27 PM EDT

Trump, on social media, says 'I don't buy stories'

While the jury deliberates, Trump -- from the courthouse -- posted to social media about the readback that the jury just heard.

During the readback, the jury heard former National Enquirer publisher testify about a June 2016 phone call he had with Trump after Playboy model Karen McDougal came forward with a story of a year-long affair with Trump, which Trump has steadfastly denied.

"This story about Karen, since she's claiming that she has a relationship with you, should be taken off the market," Pecker recounted telling Trump -- to which Trump replied, "I don't normally -- I don't buy stories because it always gets out."

"I still think you should buy the story," Pecker testified that he told Trump, to which Trump replied, "I'll speak to Michael, and he'll get back to you."

In his social media post, Trump said, "Testimony conclusively showed that I clearly stated, "I DON'T BUY STORIES!" -- Not that there would be anything wrong with doing that -- NDA's [nondisclosure agreements] are PERFECTLY LEGAL AND COMMON!"

Pecker testified that the National Enquirer eventually paid McDougal $150,000 to catch and kill her story so it would not become public, under the expectation that the money would be reimbursed by Trump -- although the reimbursement never materialized.

-Kelsey Walsh

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