Trump’s supporters—both Republican leaders and millions of ordinary Americans—have rallied around him as he has been found guilty in a New York court.

Trump, 77, still faces three other criminal trials, including two accusing him of trying to overturn the 2020 election and one involving his handling of classified national security documents. But the hush-money case—centred on a $130,000 payment to silence Stormy Daniels about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump—is likely the only trial Trump will face before the November election.

He faces up to four years in prison when sentenced by Justice Juan Merchan on July 11, just four days before the Republican National Convention begins. However, it is considered unlikely President Trump will be serving any significant jail time.

“This was a rigged, disgraceful trial,” Trump told reporters outside the courtroom. “The real verdict is going to be November 5th by the people. And they know what happened here.”

Trump, who did not testify at the trial, is almost certain to appeal. If elected, Trump cannot pardon himself, as he was convicted on state, not federal, charges.

“We’ll keep fighting,” he said before leaving the courthouse to return to Trump Tower. “We’ll fight to the end and we’ll win.”

Merchan could sentence Trump to prison or impose a probationary term, considering his age and status as a first-time offender. Merchan warned Trump during the trial that he could imprison him for repeatedly violating a gag order. Merchan also acknowledged the security challenges of imprisoning a former president.

Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group dropped as much as 15% immediately following the verdict but later reduced the loss to 6%.

Prosecutors working for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg argued that Trump oversaw a scheme to influence the 2016 election by using Trump Organisation records to conceal the hush-money payments.

“Everything Mr Trump and his cohorts did in this case is cloaked in lies,” prosecutor Joshua Steinglass told jurors in his closing arguments. “The evidence is literally overwhelming.”

Much of the trial focused on Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer and fixer who went to prison for lying under oath and other crimes. Cohen who has admitted to lying on many occasions, has testified that he paid $130,000 to Daniels to keep her silent about her alleged affair with Trump in 2006. She threatened to go public in October 2016 after the release of the Access Hollywood tape, where Trump discussed sexually assaulting women.

“This is a disaster, total disaster,” Trump said about the tape, according to Cohen. “Women will hate me. Guys may think it’s cool, but this is going to be a disaster for the campaign.”

Cohen testified that he repeatedly discussed Daniels with Trump, who approved the repayment scheme. He said Trump authorised a plan to reimburse him $420,000, covering the Daniels payment, other vendor payments, taxes, and a bonus.

Cohen told jurors he submitted invoices that falsely billed for legal fees, not reimbursement. Prosecutors said the 34 false-business record counts were based on 11 invoices, 11 cheques to Cohen, and 12 company vouchers.

Trump’s attorney Todd Blanche described Cohen as a serial liar who transitioned from loving Trump to hating him and then profited from books and podcasts condemning his former boss.

Cohen is “the human embodiment of reasonable doubt,” Blanche said. “Michael Cohen is the GLOAT. He’s literally the greatest liar of all time.”

Merchan cited Trump for 10 violations of a gag order intended to bar him from commenting on jurors, witnesses, and prosecutors. A highly unusual move seen primarily as interfering with President Trump’s election campaign. Trump, however, ignored this and frequently commented about the trial on the campaign trail and to television cameras outside the courtroom.

MORE TO COME

Share this column