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 found guilty on all counts in historic case
Former President Trump has been found guilty on all counts in his historic criminal hush money case.
As the first former president charged with a criminal offense, Trump also now becomes the first former president to be convicted of a crime.
Trump stone-faced as he awaits verdict
Donald Trump, awaiting the verdict that will be read at around 5 p.m. ET, sat at the defense table, arms very tightly crossed. He was stone-faced, nodding as his attorney Todd Blanche whispered into his ear.
The top court officer entered the courtroom, looked around, and walked out.
DA Alvin Bragg subsequently entered the courtroom.
Verdict has been reached, judge says
Judge Merchan announced that a verdict has been reached.
The jury requested an extra 30 minutes, Merchan said.
"Please let there be no outbursts, no reactions of any kind when we take the verdict," Merchan asked.
There was an audible gasp in the courtroom when Merchan announced that a verdict had been reached.
Mood appears light for Trump team
Judge Merchan told the parties he would take a few minutes back in chambers before returning at 4:30 ET to bring in the jury and excuse them for the day.
Trump, at the defense table, was actively conferring with attorney Todd Blanche as they waited, with Blanche laughing and covering his mouth as Trump whispered in his ear. Trump flashed a grin.
Defense attorneys Emil Bove and Susan Necheles were also smiling as they chatted.
Trump's tweets were a message not to cooperate, state says
After Michael Cohen implicated Trump in the hush money scheme in August 2018, Trump was "furious," prosecutor Josh Steinglass told the jury.
"His fixer had done the unthinkable, and Trump immediately went on the attack -- an attack that continues to this day," he said.
Steinglass showed a tweet Trump posted the following day: "If anyone is looking for a good lawyer, I would strongly suggest that you don't retain the services of Michael Cohen!"
"This is the day after he pled guilty," Steinglass said.
Steinglass argued that Trump's tweets after Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 were warning messages to other potential witnesses who could cooperate against him.
"These tweets were not only designed to punish Cohen," Steinglass said. "Cooperate or you will face the wrath of Donald Trump," was the message they conveyed.
Steinglass described a "vexatious and punitive lawsuit" Trump filed against Michael Cohen and a defamation suit against Stormy Daniels as evidence of his punitive means against people who epoks out against him.
After a series of sustained objections regarding Trump's tweets and their alleged impact on Cohen's safety, Judge Merchan smiled and told the jury, "This might be a good time to take our last recess of the day."