…Becomes First U.S Ex-President Convicted Of Crime
Former President Donald Trump has been convicted on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in relation to a “hush money” payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 United States election.
A 12-person jury reached the unanimous decision after two days of deliberations in the closely-watched trial.
The charges stemmed from a $130,000 payment made by Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen to Daniels in the final weeks of the 2016 presidential campaign to buy her silence about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump years earlier.
Prosecutors argued that Trump falsified records about reimbursing Cohen to cover up the payment, which could have been a violation of campaign finance laws.
In delivering the verdict, the jury agreed with prosecutors from the Manhattan District Attorney’s office that Trump engaged in a widespread effort to undermine the integrity of the 2016 election by covering up potential scandals.
Trump had pleaded not guilty and his defence maintained the payment was meant to prevent personal embarrassment rather than an illegal campaign contribution.
“Our whole country is being rigged right now,” CNN quoted Trump as telling reporters after leaving the courtroom.
“This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound or hurt an opponent, a political opponent.”
More details to follow…
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