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A New York City jury found former President Donald Trump guilty of falsification of business records in his criminal hush money trial on Thursday (May 30). Trump is the first president in U.S. history to be charged and convicted of a felony.
Trump could face up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on July 11. The judge also has the discretion to reduce his sentence to probation or a monetary fine.
The jury informed Judge Juan Merchan that they had reached a decision moments before they were set to be excused for the day.
The jury of 12 New Yorkers deliberated for two days before reaching their decision.
The charges were linked to a $130,000 payment made by Trump's attorney, Michael Cohen, to adult film star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election. Each of the 34 charges corresponds to a document created to pay Cohen $35,000 a month in 2017, including the checks, invoices, and vouchers used to record the payment.
The payment was allegedly made in exchange for Daniels' silence about a supposed sexual encounter with Trump in 2006, which he denies.
The trial lasted six weeks and featured testimony from 22 witnesses, including Cohen and Daniels.
After the verdict, Trump briefly addressed reporters outside the courtroom, calling the trial "rigged and disgraceful." He then said that the "real verdict" would come on election day.
“We didn't do a thing wrong. I’m a very innocent man,” Trump said after leaving the courtroom.