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
Trump team hoping for a hung jury, say sources
As jurors begin their second day of deliberations, Trump's legal team feels that the longer the jury deliberates, the more they're hoping for a hung jury, sources told ABC News.
Trump's lawyers see the requests the jury has made to rehear testimony from the case as a mixed bag, the sources said -- not positive news that jurors wanted to rehear former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker's testimony, but at the same time feeling optimistic that jurors requested portions of Michael Cohen's transcript.
Trump's attorneys are looking for any indication that the jury will probe issues surrounding Cohen's credibility, which cuts to the core of their defense, according to the sources.
"We want chaos ... we want evidence of strong disagreements," one person close to Trump's legal team said regarding the jury, signaling their hope that at least one juror will raise doubts about the theories presented by the prosecution.
-Katherine Faulders and John Santucci
Jury to begin 2nd day of deliberations
The jury in Donald Trump's criminal trial will return to court this morning for their second day of deliberations in the historic case.
After receiving instructions on the law from the judge yesterday morning, the jurors deliberated the case for four and a half hours and sent back two notes, asking to listen to testimony from two key witnesses in the case and to rehear the judge's instructions on the law.
The jury requested to rehear former National Enquirer David Pecker's testimony about a June 2016 phone call with Trump regarding the tabloid's response to a potential story about former Playboy model Karen McDougal's alleged year-long affair with Trump --- which he has denied --- as well as Pecker's decision about allocating the rights to her story.
Jurors also requested to hear both Pecker and Michael Cohen's testimony about the August 2015 Trump Tower meeting where the plan to catch and kill negative stories originated.
Judge Juan Merchan estimated that the entire readback will take approximately 35 minutes, and he also asked the jury to clarify this morning which portion of the instruction they would like read back.
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.
"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
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.
Trump departs, sentencing set for July 11
Sentencing has been set for July 11.
The Republican National Convention begins July 15 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Former President Donald Trump was released without bail.
Trump marched out of the courtroom, flinging his arms as he walked.