Trump hush money trial: Trump found guilty on all counts in historic case
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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Trump guilty on all 34 counts
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.
Judge confers with attorneys on readback material
After dismissing the jury for the day, Judge Merchan asked the lawyers not to leave the courtroom until they decide the portion for the jury's requested readback.
"Yes, your honor," defense attorney Todd Blanche responded.
As the lawyers met with Merchan at the bench, Trump leaned back in his seat at the defense table, with his arm resting on the top of his chair.
Blanche asked if Trump could return the his waiting area while the attorneys searched for the readback material.
Merchan said he would allow it as long as Trump remained nearby in case he is needed.
Trump slowly walked out of the courtroom, scowling as he left.
Judge says jury notes will be addressed tomorrow
With the jury back in the courtroom, Judge Merchan told them the requested readback of testimony would will take at least half an hour, so announced he would dismiss the jury for the day and address both their notes when they return tomorrow.
Before dismissing the jury for the day, the judge emphasized his standard instruction about the jury not looking up information related to the trial.
"You are at a critical point in the proceedings," Merchan said.
"See you tomorrow morning at 9:30," the judge said before the jury exited the courtroom.
Jury asks to rehear judge's instructions
Judge Merchan, returning to the bench, announced, "We did just receive another note."
The judge said the jury wants to rehear the judge's instructions.
Merchan suggested bringing them back to clarify if they want the entire instructions or just a portion.
Trump calls judge 'tyrant,' slams Cohen without naming him
Former President Trump, speaking from Trump Tower the morning after his historic felony conviction, slammed witness Michael Cohen while calling the judge in the case a "tyrant."
"We're going to be appealing in many different things. He wouldn't allow us to have witnesses, he wouldn't allow us to talk, he wouldn't allow us to do anything," Trump said of Judge Juan Merchan. "The judge was a tyrant."
Of Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen, who testified for the prosecution, Trump said, "This was [once] a highly qualified lawyer. I'm not allowed to use his name because of the gag order. He is a sleaze. Everybody knows that. Took me a while to found out."
Trump, who still remains to be sentenced on July 11, remains under the limited gag order that prohibits him from attacking witnesses in the case as well as jurors and attorneys other than Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg.
"This should have been a non-case. Everybody said it was a non-case," Trump said.