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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Trump guilty on all 34 counts
Prosecutor calls Pecker's testimony 'devastating'
Prosecutor Josh Steinglass took aim at the defense assertion that Stormy Daniels was out to extort Donald Trump.
"Maybe you think it's a sordid practice," he said. "In the end it doesn't really matter because you don't get to commit election fraud or falsify business records because you believe you have been victimized."
Steinglass told the jurors that many of the witnesses they heard from are Trump friends or fans.
"Pecker has no reason to lie here," he said, speaking of former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker. "He still considers Donald Trump a friend and mentor, and still his testimony is utterly devastating."
"These people like the defendant," Steinglass said. "If anything, they have incentive to skew the testimony" in a way that will help him.
Prosecutor says they've presented 'powerful evidence'
Assistant district attorney Josh Steinglass began his closing argument by quoting the People's opening.
"This case, at its core, is about a conspiracy and a coverup, a conspiracy to corrupt the 2016 election and a coverup to hide that conspiracy," Steinglass said.
"We asked you to remember to tune out the noise and to ignore the sideshows. And if you've done that ... you will see the People have presented powerful evidence of the defendants guilt," he said.
Steinglass pushed back on the defense's suggestion that prosecutors manipulated evidence.
"There is nothing sinister here -- no manipulation," Steinglass said.
Steinglass argued that it was defense lawyers manipulated who the evidence in a phone summary chart showing calls between Michael Cohen and his onetime legal adviser Bob Costello, saying that defense lawyers were provided Cohen's full phone extraction if they believed evidence was manipulated.
Judge consults with prosecutors on curative instruction
Following the lunch break, the parties returned to the courtroom ahead of their closing argument.
Judge Merchan began the afternoon session by asking prosecutors about the curative instruction following defense attorney Todd Blanche's mention of prison at the end of his closing argument.
Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger told Merchan that Blanche's mention of prison time was "highly improper" and a direct violation of a pretrial order about arguments related to potential punishments.
"Mr. Blanche was certainly on notice that this was an improper argument," Hoffinger said.
Blanche did not opposed to the curative instruction about his earlier arguments. Merchan will deliver it to the jury as drafted by prosecutors.
Before break, judge slams defense for 'prison' remark
Before Judge Merchan recessed court for the lunch break, prosecutors took issue with defense attorney Todd Blanche saying "You cannot send someone to prison based upon the words of Michael Cohen."
Prosecutors called Blanche's reference to prison "ridiculous" and an effort to gain sympathy for their client.
"I think that saying that was outrageous, Mr. Blanche," Merchan told Blanche. "It is simply not allowed, period."
The judge said he would give the jury curative instructions.
"Its hard for me to imagine how that was accidental in any way," Merchan said.
The parties then left the courtroom for the break. Blanche left the courtroom smiling as another member of the legal team gave him a big pat on the back.
Verdict breakdown by count
Former President Trump was convicted on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in order to hide a hush money payment to boost his prospects in the 2016 election. Here are each of the records he was charged with falsifying, and the verdict for each.
1) An invoice from Michael Cohen dated Feb. 14, 2017 - GUILTY
2) An entry in the Detail General Ledger for the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust on or about Feb. 14, 2017 - GUILTY
3) An entry in the Detail General Ledger for the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust on or about Feb. 14, 2017 - GUILTY
4) A Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust Account check and check stub dated Feb. 14, 2017 - GUILTY
5) An invoice from Michael Cohen dated Feb. 16, 2017 and transmitted on or about March 16, 2017 - GUILTY
6) An entry in the Detail General Ledger for the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust on or about March 17, 2017 - GUILTY
7) A Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust Account check and check stub dated March 17, 2017 - GUILTY
8) An invoice from Michael Cohen dated April 13, 2017 - GUILTY
9) An entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump on or about June 19, 2017 - GUILTY
10) A Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated June 19, 2017 - GUILTY
11) An invoice from Michael Cohen dated May 22, 2017 - GUILTY
12) An entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump on or about May 22, 2017 - GUILTY
13) A Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated May 23, 2017 - GUILTY
14) An invoice from Michael Cohen dated June 16, 2017 - GUILTY
15) An entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump on or about June 19, 2017 - GUILTY
16) A Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated June 19, 2017 - GUILTY
17) An invoice from Michael Cohen dated July 11, 2017 - GUILTY
18) An entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump on or about July 11, 2017 - GUILTY
19) A Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated July 11, 2017 - GUILTY
20) An invoice from Michael Cohen dated Aug. 1, 2017 - GUILTY
21) An entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump on or about Aug. 1, 2017 - GUILTY
22) A Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated Aug. 1, 2017 - GUILTY
23) An invoice from Michael Cohen dated Sept. 11, 2017 - GUILTY
24) An entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump on or about Sept. 11, 2017 - GUILTY
25) A Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated Sept. 12, 2017 - GUILTY
26) An invoice from Michael Cohen dated Oct. 18, 2017 - GUILTY
27) An entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump on or about Oct. 18, 2017 - GUILTY
28) A Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated Oct. 18, 2017 - GUILTY
29) An invoice from Michael Cohen dated Nov. 20, 2017 - GUILTY
30) An entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump on or about Nov. 20, 2017 - GUILTY
31) A Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated Nov. 21, 2017 - GUILTY
32) An invoice from Michael Cohen dated Dec. 1, 2017 - GUILTY
33) An entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump on or about Dec. 1, 2017 - GUILTY
34) A Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated Dec. 5, 2017 - GUILTY