In a historic verdict on June 30, 2024, a New York jury found former United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump guilty of falsifying business documents to conceal a payment made to a porn star prior to the 2016 election. This conviction marks the first time a U.S. president has been found guilty of a crime. The 12-member jury deliberated for two days before reaching a unanimous decision on all 34 felony counts against Trump.

“This was a rigged, disgraceful trial,” an angry Trump told reporters after leaving the courtroom. “The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people. They know what happened, and everyone knows what happened here.” Trump gave a thumbs-up through the tinted window of his SUV as his motorcade left the courthouse, where supporters, journalists, police, and onlookers had gathered.

Trump, 77, maintained a stoic demeanor as the jurors were individually polled to confirm their verdict. Justice Juan Merchan has scheduled the sentencing for July 11, shortly before the Republican Party’s convention, where Trump is expected to be formally nominated as the presidential candidate for the upcoming November 5 election. Although the crime carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison, it is common for those convicted to receive lighter sentences such as fines, probations, or shorter terms. Trump’s attorney has announced plans to appeal the verdict as quickly as possible, asserting that the trial was biased.

The Biden campaign responded by underscoring the principle that no one is above the law, urging voters to prevent Trump’s return to the Oval Office through the ballot box. The White House declined to comment. Meanwhile, Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, denounced the verdict, calling it a “shameful day in American history.”

The conviction throws the United States into uncharted waters ahead of the November election, where Trump will challenge Democratic President Joe Biden in a tightly contested race. A Reuters/Ipsos poll indicates that the guilty verdict could erode Trump’s support among independent and some Republican voters. Trump still faces three other indictments in three other jurisdictions, but with those cases mired in delays, this was likely to be his only trial before Election Day. The other prosecutions hold loftier charges — Trump is charged with mishandling classified documents in Florida and plotting to subvert democracy in Washington and Georgia — but this trial sprang from the seamy milieu that had made him famous, if not notorious, as a New York gossip-page fixture.

The case against Trump, widely considered the least severe of the four criminal prosecutions he faces, has now gained significant weight as it will likely be the only case to reach a verdict before the election. The jury’s decision came after a five-week trial featuring explicit testimony from porn star Stormy Daniels about her alleged 2006 sexual encounter with Trump, which he denies. Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, testified that Trump authorized a $130,000 payment to Daniels in the final weeks of the 2016 election to silence her allegations. Cohen’s credibility was a focal point of Trump’s defense, highlighting his criminal record and history of lying. However, the jury found Cohen’s testimony compelling enough to convict Trump. Legal experts suggest that Trump’s appeal will likely focus on the explicit nature of Daniels’ testimony and the novel legal theory employed by the prosecutors, though the success of such an appeal is uncertain.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office pursued the case, stated, “We did our job. The only voice that matters is the voice of the jury, and the jury has spoken.” The charges, stemming from records of Cohen’s reimbursement, had been known as the “zombie case” because Bragg revived it after his predecessor declined to prosecute.

If re-elected, Trump could potentially dismiss the two federal cases accusing him of trying to overturn the 2020 election results and of mishandling classified documents post-presidency. However, he would have no authority over the election-subversion case in Georgia. Trump has pleaded not guilty in all cases, framing his legal challenges as politically motivated attacks by Biden’s allies. The conviction’s implications are profound, affecting the political landscape and setting a precedent in American history. The outcome of Trump’s appeal and the reaction of the electorate in the upcoming election will significantly influence the future of U.S. politics and the integrity of its legal system.