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.


Trump guilty on all 34 counts


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'The truth always matters,' Michael Cohen says

The prosecution's star witness, former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, called today's verdict "an important day for accountability and the rule of law."

"While it has been a difficult journey for me and my family, the truth always matters," he said.


'The fix was always in,' says Trump adviser

Two senior Trump advisers who ABC News spoke with were extremely angry after the verdict.

Both said they were not surprised by the jury’s decision. One said, "The fix was always in," and the other added, "Not surprised -- it’s New York."

Donald Trump Jr., reacting to his father's guilty verdict, said, "The Democrats have succeeded in their yearslong attempt to turn America into a third-world s---hole. Nov. 5 is our last chance to save it."


Biden campaign reacts to verdict

The guilty verdict shows "no one is above the law," a representative for President Joe Biden's campaign said, adding, "But today's verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box."

"Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president," Michael Tyler, communications director for the Biden-Harris campaign, said in a statement.

"A second Trump term means chaos, ripping away Americans' freedoms and fomenting political violence -- and the American people will reject it this November," Tyler said.

The White House offered a very brief comment, with a White House Counsel’s Office spokesperson saying, "We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment."

Among the congressional response, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, who traveled to Manhattan days ago to support Trump at the trial, said in a statement, "Today is a shameful day in American history. Democrats cheered as they convicted the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges, predicated on the testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon."

"President Trump will rightfully appeal this absurd verdict -- and he WILL WIN!" Johnson said.


Trump campaign is fundraising off verdict: 'I'm a political prisoner!'

Former President Donald Trump's campaign is already fundraising off of the guilty verdicts in his hush money trial, telling his supporters he has been convicted in a "rigged" trial.

"I was just convicted in a RIGGED political Witch Hunt trial: I DID NOTHING WRONG!" a fundraising email said. "They’ve raided my home, arrested me, took my mugshot, AND NOW THEY’VE JUST CONVICTED ME!" the email continues.

The email links to a fundraising page, in which Trump told his supporters, "I'm a political prisoner!"


Judge addresses how to handle an untruthful witness

Judge Merchan told the jury that they have the ultimate authority in determining the truthfulness of a witness' testimony -- an instruction that might come in handy given the emphasis that defense lawyers placed on Michael Cohen's testimony, which they say includes lies.

"You will alone determine the truthfully and the accuracy of the testimony of each witness," Merchan said.

He added that the jury could either disregard the testimony of an untruthful witness entirely, or disregard part of it.

"There is no particular formula" to determine credibility, Merchan said.

"You may consider whether the witness has any interest in the outcome of the case," he said -- another matter that might weigh on jurors' minds.

"You may consider whether a witness did have, or did not have, a motive to lie," the judge said.

Trump's attorney had told the jury Cohen had an "axe to grind" against his former boss. Prosecutors partially conceded that Cohen had a motive, acknowledging that, to date, he is the only one who suffered any consequences from the matter at hand.

Trump, at the defense table, appeared to look over to the jury and offer a bit of a closed-mouth grin.