Trump is convicted of tax fraud in a case involving a porn actress; Sentence will be announced in July
For the first time in history, a former American president was found guilty in a criminal case. The jury ruled unanimously on all 34 counts.
Trump on trial in NY this Thursday (30) - Photo Reproduction/Seth Wenig/Reuters
Former President of the United States, Donald Trump, was convicted of tax fraud in a high-profile case involving payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels. The verdict was reached after an intense trial, and the sentence will be announced in July this year. The first former president of the United States made history by becoming this Thursday (30) upon becoming the country's first former head of state to be convicted of a crime. Even though he is running for president again this year, Trump was convicted of accounting fraud due to hiding a payment to silence Daniels during the 2016 election, where he defeated Hillary Clinton, of the Democratic Party.
The 12-member jury announced its unanimous decision in the New York courtroom. Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts. After leaving the court, the former president criticized the judge and stated that the "true verdict" will be given in the November elections.
"This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a corrupt and conflicted judge," Trump said and continued, "We did nothing wrong. I'm an innocent man. I'm fighting for our country," concluded the former president. American president.
Understand the Case
The case dates back to the 2016 presidential campaign, when Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, claimed to have had an affair with Trump in 2006. During the campaign, Daniels received a $130,000 payment from Trump's then-personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, in exchange for her silence about the alleged affair.. The payment, initially described as a personal expense by Cohen, raised suspicions of financial irregularities. The investigation revealed that the payment was made to influence the election, constituting a violation of campaign finance laws. Furthermore, it was discovered that the amount was reimbursed to Cohen through the Trump Organization, but was recorded in a way that masked its true nature.
Trump has claimed to be a victim of political persecution and that the current criminal trial is part of an alleged campaign to prevent his return to the White House. It is the first time in history that a former president of the United States has been criminally charged and convicted, and the impact of this process on the electorate is still unknown. Voting is scheduled for November 5th.
The accusations
Trump faced several accusations, including:
Fraude Fiscal: Falsification of tax documents to disguise payment reimbursement to Cohen.
Bank Fraud: Use of false information in payment-related banking transactions.
Conspiracy to Violate Campaign Finance Laws: Coordinate and disguise payment to avoid public disclosure.
The judgment
The judgment began on April 15 and attracted considerable media attention, with heated debates between Trump's defense and prosecutors, in addition to counting on the selection of jurors who decided Trump's fate, making it the first criminal trial of a former US president. Alvin Bragg led the prosecution team, which throughout the process claimed that Trump interfered in the 2016 elections, buying the silence of porn actress Stormy Daniels during the final stretch of the presidential campaign. In the end, Trump, from the Republican Party, beat Hillary Clinton, from the Democratic Party.
The defense argued that the payment to Daniels was a legitimate attempt to protect his reputation and family, not a political maneuver. However, the prosecution presented substantial evidence that financial records were intentionally manipulated to conceal the actual purpose of the payment. Trump and his advisors had an agreement with the director of the tabloid newspaper "National Enquirer", David Pecker, to assist in the 2016 election campaign.
During the trial, the journalist admitted to having paid to hide stories that could harm the politician, using the following scheme: when a source with negative information about Trump appeared, the "National Enquirer" bought the exclusive story, but never published it. This occurred in two cases, in which the newspaper paid for the discretion of a former Playboy magazine model and a doorman. After these situations, a third source emerged with a potentially negative story for Trump: porn actress Stormy Daniels.
During the trial, Daniels claimed to have had a sexual relationship with Trump in 2006, after a golf tournament. She testified that she met Trump in July 2006 during a celebrity golf tournament. She claimed that the former president invited her to dinner in his hotel suite. Although she said she was not coerced into having sex, she perceived a power imbalance between them. Daniels reported that they had sex in the "mommy and daddy" position and that Trump did not use a condom.
Although Trump admitted meeting Daniels at the tournament, he denied having sexual relations with her or speaking to her afterward. However, unlike the "National Enquirer" case, Trump involved his direct advisor, Michael Cohen, to "close" the story. Cohen was a lawyer and a Trump errand man. At the end of the 2016 campaign, he himself paid $130,000 to prevent porn actress Stormy Daniels from giving interviews about her alleged sexual encounter with Trump.
Trump was not called to testify during the trial, but Cohen, his lawyer, was reimbursed by him and this was recorded as a legal expense. Cohen, who was the prosecution's star witness, said Trump was concerned that Stormy Daniels' story would come out in the final stretch of the 2016 campaign. During the trial, Cohen reported that Trump said, "This is a disaster, a Complete disaster. Women will hate me. Guys think it's cool, but it will be disastrous for the campaign." In addition to Cohen, McDougal and Daniels were also the main witnesses in the case.
Consequences and Repercussions
Trump's conviction for tax fraud represents a significant milestone, being the first former president of the United States to be convicted of a crime of this nature. The sentence, which will be announced in July, could include substantial fines and potentially prison time.. Even if he is convicted, Trump can participate in the election and govern if he is victorious, even if he is arrested. There is nothing in United States law that prevents you from doing this.
In the United States, a person with a criminal conviction can run for president, even if he or she is in prison. According to the Constitution of the United States, to become president you must have been born in the country, be at least 35 years old and have resided in the United States for at least 14 years. Therefore, the Constitution does not prohibit a person with a criminal conviction from being president. At least two other politicians have run for president of the United States despite having criminal convictions: about 100 years ago, Eugene Debs ran while he was in prison. Lyndon LaRouche ran for president in every election from 1976 to 2004 and, in one of them, received 26,000 votes, despite being detained.
The judge responsible for the case, Juan Merchan, will still decide what the sentence will be, which will be announced on July 11th. In the worst case scenario, Trump could face up to 4 years in prison. However, American experts believe that the former president is unlikely to end up in prison. This is mainly due to the fact that the 34 charges against him are considered low-level, Class E felonies in New York. The judge can take into account several circumstances to reduce Trump's sentence, such as it being his first criminal conviction, the fact that the crime was not violent, the advanced age of the accused, and the fact that he has already been president of the United States. and be able to be again. Instead of prison, the judge may opt for a milder sentence, such as probation or a fine.
Legal experts suggest the conviction could have profound implications for Trump, both in his personal life and his political career. While he still maintains a sizable support base, the conviction could complicate his future political aspirations, including a possible presidential run in 2024.
