(NEW YORK) — One day after being found guilty on all 34 counts in his hush-money trial, Donald Trump remained brash as he addressed reporters at Trump Tower — where he repeated many of his grievances with the case and vowed to appeal.
Trump spoke on Friday morning from the atrium of the New York skyscraper, steps away from the golden escalator he famously rode down in 2015 when he kicked off his first bid for president.
Nearly nine years later, and after becoming the first U.S. president to ever be convicted of crimes, Trump said in a rambling speech that he will continue to fight against the legal battles that have consumed much of his third White House bid.
“If they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone,” Trump said as he kicked off his remarks, which were filled with falsehoods about the case. “These are bad people. These are, in many cases, I believe, sick people.”
Trump then dove into some of his signature campaign rhetoric, going after migrants coming to the United States and economic competition with China. But his attention quickly returned to the New York criminal trial, and remained there for much of his 35-minute remarks. He did not take any questions from the press.
Trump continued to falsely claim the trial was “rigged” with a biased judge and prosecutors.
While Trump avoided directly naming Judge Juan Merchan and his former attorney Michael Cohen, citing the gag order against him, he made references to both. He alluded to Cohen as a “sleazebag” and the judge a “tyrant.”
He also sought to portray himself as a political martyr — a theme that has been central to his 2024 campaign.
“In a way, I’m honored,” he said. “It’s not that it’s pleasant. It’s very bad for family, it’s very bad for friends and businesses, but I’m honored to be involved in it because somebody has to do it, and I might as well keep going and be the one.”
“So we’re going to show them that we’re going to fight … It’s something where I’m wired in such a way that a lot of people would have gone away a long time ago,” he later added.
Trump signified that they plan to appeal the decision and reiterated many reasons why he and his team believe they should, again criticizing the venue of the trial and timing of the case.
“The people of our country know it’s a hoax, they know it’s a hoax, they get it,” Trump said. “You know, they’re really smart. And it’s really something, so we’re going to be appealing this scam.”
Trump continued to try to downplay the counts he was found guilty of, still claiming his non-disclosure agreement was “totally legal” and not a hush-money payment.
Despite being a convicted felon, Trump said he still believes this will only propel him to win in November, as he continued to falsely accuse the Biden administration of creating political persecution despite the case being handled solely by New York prosecutors.
“I don’t know if Biden knows too much about it, because I don’t know if he knows about anything, but he’s nevertheless the president, so we have to use his name. And this is done by Washington,” Trump said.
The Biden-Harris campaign quickly responded to the speech, criticizing Trump for “attacking the rule of law” and “sowing chaos.”
“America just witnessed a confused, desperate, and defeated Donald Trump ramble about his own personal grievances and lie about the American justice system, leaving anyone watching with one obvious conclusion: This man cannot be president of the United States. Unhinged by his 2020 election loss and spiraling from his criminal convictions, Trump is consumed by his own thirst for revenge and retribution,” Biden campaign communications director Michael Tyler said in a statement. “He thinks this election is about him. But it’s not. It’s about the American people: lowering their costs, protecting their freedoms, defending their democracy.”
Trump also touted his fundraising haul since the verdict, arguing his record haul shows the support he has behind him while also getting angry as he said he wished this didn’t happen. The campaign claimed earlier Friday they raised $34.8 million, though Trump placed the number higher at $39 million in his speech.
The former president and presumptive Republican nominee was joined by a couple dozen supporters, his legal and campaign team, and his son Eric Trump and his wife Lara who cheered and clapped as he entered the Trump Tower atrium.
ABC News’ Gabrielle Abdul-Hakim, Fritz Farrow and Will McDuffie contributed to this report.
(ATHENS, Ga.) — The suspect accused of killing 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley was arraigned on murder charges Friday in connection with the slaying on the University of Georgia campus.
An Athens-Clarke County judge entered a plea of not guilty for Jose Ibarra, 26, following his indictment earlier this month on malice murder and felony murder and other offenses. The judge said the trial in the case will likely be scheduled for the fall.
Ibarra did not speak and wore headphones during the arraignment. His attorney asked for 90 days to review the preliminary discovery. The state said they are awaiting cellphone reports and other scientific reports but will be ready for trial in the fall.
Riley’s family also sat in the courtroom for the arraignment.
Riley, a student at Augusta University, was found dead in a wooded area on the Athens campus on Feb. 22 after she didn’t return from a run. The indictment alleges that Ibarra killed her by “inflicting blunt force trauma to her head and by asphyxiating her” and seriously disfigured her head by striking her “multiple times” with a rock.
Additional charges in the 10-count indictment include aggravated battery, kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated assault with intent to rape, obstructing or hindering a person making an emergency telephone call and tampering with evidence. The latter charge alleged that he “knowingly concealed” evidence — a jacket and gloves — involving the offense of malice murder.
He was also charged with a peeping tom offense. The indictment alleges that on the same day as Riley’s murder, he spied through the window of a different person who lived in an apartment on campus.
Ibarra was denied bond following his arrest on Feb. 23 and is being held at the Clarke County Jail.
Police have said they do not believe Ibarra — a migrant from Venezuela — knew Riley and that this was a “crime of opportunity.” Her death has become a rallying cry for immigration reform from many conservatives.
(NEW YORK) — The co-worker and friend who was with Johnny Wactor when the former “General Hospital” actor was shot and killed is speaking for the first time about the tragic night.
Anita Joy sat down with “Good Morning America” and recounted her good friend’s final moments.
“It all happened in an instant,” Joy recalled. “All of my being just kind of like dropped to my ankles.”
“This felt completely helpless. There’s nothing in my knowledge that I could have done aside from like, trying to give him support,” Joy added.
Joy and Wactor had finished their bartending shift at about 3 a.m. on May 25 in downtown Los Angeles and were walking to their cars together when police said they encountered three suspects in masks who were attempting to steal the catalytic convertor from Wactor’s car.
“A man is down like on his knees putting a jack under the car and he had the car halfway jacked up and then we realize this is not tow people,” Joy recalled. “He had a ski mask on so we were just suddenly like, ‘Oh no, you know, this is bad.'”
Wactor approached one of the suspects, who instantly opened fire on the 37-year-old, and then fled in a dark sedan, according to Joy.
“He approached the man just like one step forward and I hear a loud crack,” Joy said. “He just came flying backwards towards me.”
Joy, who opened up about what happened in an Instagram post late Wednesday, had written that when she asked Wactor if he was OK at the time, he responded, “Nope! Shot!”
Joy said she struggled to figure out how to respond.
“I was just thinking, I was like, ‘OK, shot. What’s next?'” Joy recalled. “I didn’t see the wound yet. I could feel the blood. I had blood on my hands so I ripped his shirt open and he had a shot right to his chest.”
Joy said she screamed for help and a nearby security guard called 911. She also tied her jacket around Wactor to try to stop the bleeding.
“I was just screaming at him, trying to tell him to stay with me and that I love him and don’t go. That was all that could come out of me at that moment,” Joy said.
Joy said she wanted people to know that her close friend was a selfless person who cared about others.
“He was the guy to give you the shirt off his back. He was the guy to step in front of you, if you’re gonna get shot,” Joy said. “You could be friends with him for 10 minutes. You can be friends with him for 10 years and it’s almost the same energy that he would give you.”
Nearly a week after the incident, the suspects in this case are still at large and police are seeking the public’s help to identify those behind the senseless killing.
Joy told “GMA” she hopes the suspects are “caught and convicted.”
“I hope that they’re terrified and I hope that somehow we find them,” Joy said of the suspects. “They didn’t even get the catalytic converter, that’s what they were going for. They left with Johnny’s life instead.”
(NEW YORK) — Ivanka Trump delivered a brief — and indirect — social media post late Thursday in the wake of her father’s conviction at his hush money trial.
The former presidential adviser, who has stayed out of the limelight during the trial, posted a photo on her Instagram Stories of her and her father when she was a child, writing, “I love you dad.”
Donald Trump Jr., the former president’s eldest child, was the first to come out in defense of his father just minutes after Donald Trump was found guilty in his hush money trial on Thursday, laying the blame at Trump’s political rivals.
“The Democrats have succeeded in their years-long attempt to turn America into a third-world s—hole,” Trump Jr. said in a statement to ABC News.
Referencing the upcoming presidential election, Trump Jr. said, “Nov. 5 is our last chance to save it.”
The former president’s middle son, Eric Trump, took to X to proclaim that Thursday’s guilty verdict would signal a win for Trump in November.
“May 30th, 2024 might be remembered as the day Donald J. Trump won the 2024 Presidential Election,” Eric Trump wrote.
There was no immediate reaction from other family members.
For his part, Donald Trump called the verdict “rigged” and also railed against Democrats just over five months before Election Day.
“This was a disgrace,” Trump told reporters outside of the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse on Thursday, adding, “This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt. It’s a rigged trial, a disgrace.”
In his remarks, Trump took aim at the Biden administration, saying, “This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound, to hurt an opponent, a political opponent.”
Trump was on trial in New York City, where he was convicted on all 34 felony charges related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
Last April, Trump pleaded not guilty to a 34-count indictment charging him with falsifying business records regarding the payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen made to Daniels in order to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.
On Thursday, a Manhattan jury found Trump guilty on all 34 counts.
As the first former president charged with a criminal offense, Trump also now becomes the first former president to be convicted of a crime.
(NEW YORK) — The guilty verdicts against former President Donald Trump on 34 counts make real a prospect that had been only hypothetical: a presumptive presidential nominee running as a convicted felon.
Yet, the electoral fallout is still only theoretical — and may not be fully realized until Nov. 5.
Trump is expected to appeal the ruling, dragging out the legal case against him surrounding hush money payments to cover up an alleged sexual encounter with adult film actress Stormy Daniels. It also leaves operatives wondering if the conviction will serve as a badge of honor to his voters, a stumbling block in his reelection bid or, in the parlance of the Trump era, a nothing burger.
“All of the above,” said GOP strategist Mike DuHaime, who worked on former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s presidential bid. “No one plays victim better than he does, so this will solidify 95% of his supporters. The problem is the other 5%. If that 5% leaves, he’s losing 2.5 points in close target states, enough to tip the balance.”
Polls had indicated risks loomed for Trump in the case of a conviction, with an April survey from CNN/SSRS showing that 24% of Trump supporters “might reconsider” their support for him. In an average of more recent polls taken by 538, Trump loses 6 points of support after a then-hypothetical conviction, but President Joe Biden gains only 1 point.
In the immediate aftermath of Thursday’s verdicts, both parties were left searching for answers as to where Trump stands with voters.
“The problem is, I don’t know because it’s never been done before,” a source with direct knowledge of how the Trump campaign could respond said when asked what the electoral fallout could be.
Some Republicans predicted the ruling will only supercharge Trump’s base — a dynamic that popped up in polling and fundraising in the past, including after his indictments in the very case he was convicted in on Thursday, and one that could prove advantageous in a possible margin-of-error base where base turnout makes the difference.
“This outrageous outcome will only intensify the Trump base both politically and regarding fundraising. Sad day for our country,” said Brian Ballard, a prominent Republican lobbyist.
“This was so over the top it will continue to push people to his corner,” added Sean Spicer, Trump’s first White House press secretary.
That was the case with Richard Paddock, a businessman from Gilford, New Hampshire, who supported Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the 2024 GOP primary and was lukewarm about voting for Trump.
“This outcome has now hardened my support to vote for Trump,” he told ABC News. “I can’t imagine the jury wasn’t conflicted. Everyone has an opinion of Trump baked in.”
Other operatives were less certain of the ramifications — with some pointing to July 11, Trump’s sentencing date, as an opportunity for a clearer sense of what the impact will be on Trump’s comeback bid.
“That will be a function in part of what the judge does at sentencing,” said Republican donor Eric Levine, who fundraised for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s now-defunct presidential bid and since said he would vote for Trump. “If he’s sent to prison, it will make it difficult for him to campaign. If he’s free pending appeal, I think this will help him.”
Even some Democrats suggested the race between Trump and Biden remains unchanged.
Both men boast virtually universal name recognition after decades in the spotlight and one term in the White House, and voters have had years to digest the allegations in the hush money case, leaving little new information to be gleaned from the verdict, historic as it is.
“No one learned anything new about Donald Trump or Joe Biden today. The election remains static, and the only way to beat Donald Trump is at the ballot box,” said one adviser to Democratic candidates and donors.
The Biden campaign itself echoed a similar line, saying in a fundraising pitch to supporters that “despite a jury finding Donald Trump guilty today, there is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot box,” noting that, “Trump’s supporters are fired up and likely setting fundraising records for his campaign.”
Still, the conviction slaps Trump with the ignominious label of felon, possibly giving Republicans and undecided voters pause over whether to back the former president in November.
Trump had already shown signs of leaking support among some voters. Haley, despite dropping out of the presidential race in March, was still racking up votes in primaries, reaching as high as around 20%.
Some of that vote was certain to be cast as a protest by voters never intending to support Trump in the first place, and some of that 20% is anticipated to come home to the GOP in November. But some operatives who spoke to ABC News said the verdict could hinder Trump’s consolidation of GOP support, especially from the centrist flank of the party.
“Moderate swing voters aren’t wild about voting for a convicted felon,” said anti-Trump GOP pollster Sarah Longwell.
“The big unknown that no poll can measure and no one will see until Election Day is how many Republicans stay home rather than vote for a felon,” added veteran Democratic strategist Pete Giangreco. “Look, if 4-5% of current Trump voters go third party or stay home, Biden has a solid shot. That’s 2 points. In a state like Wisconsin, Pennsylvania or Michigan, that’s all it might take.”
And while Paddock and other voters who spoke to ABC News either doubled down on Trump or said they were keeping an open mind, others said the conviction slammed the door on the possibility they’d pull the lever for the former president on Election Day.
“It’s crazy that we have a former president as a felon. I think it’s just a sad day for U.S. politics but hope it inspires change in everyone,” said Matthew Labkovski, a 26-year-old Republican medical student in South Florida who had previously been deciding between voting for Biden, Trump or a third-party candidate, and is now choosing between voting for Biden and not voting at all.
“He kind of screwed the pooch on that one,” added Jay Rueda, a Republican from Houston and a two-time Trump voter. “I think it completely puts him out of contention on my end.”
ABC News’ Benjamin Siegel, Isabella Murray and Michael Pappano contributed to this report.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives at Trump Tower on May 30, 2024 in New York City. The former president was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. Trump has now become the first former U.S. president to be convicted of felony crimes. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
(NEW YORK) — Former President Donald Trump is set to address reporters on Friday morning — the day after being found guilty on all 34 counts in his hush-money trial.
“PRESS CONFERENCE TOMORROW MORNING AT 11:00 A.M.,” Trump posted on his social media platform shortly after he left court on Thursday.
Trump will speak from the atrium of Trump Tower just feet away from the golden escalator he rode down in 2015 when he kicked off his first bid for president.
Now, nearly nine years later, Trump will further respond to his conviction and the legal battle he faces that has been much of the focus of his third presidential bid. Campaign officials and some supporters are also expected to be present.
“He’s ready to get out there and start fighting,” senior adviser Jason Miller told FOX News on Thursday.
In the wake of his guilty verdict, Trump and his campaign have sought to center their focus back on the campaign trail, arguing that “the real verdict” will happen on Election Day and urging supporters to donate to Trump’s campaign.
Trump has been attempting to turn the verdict around to his advantage by aggressively fundraising off of it, blasting out fundraising emails to smaller dollar donors, calling himself a “political prisoner,” and also attending a fundraiser with major Republican donors in Manhattan Thursday night just hours after the verdict dropped.
Trump currently doesn’t have any public campaign events scheduled for next week; however, he is expected to do a fundraising blitz through the West Coast.
The presumptive Republican nominee is facing additional criminal charges with two cases brought in federal courts and an additional in state court. Trump is set to be sentenced on July 11 — three days prior to the Republican National Convention where he will become the Republican presidential nominee.
(NEW YORK) — Michael Cohen says he is “not surprised” that former President Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony charges as the 45th president became the first commander-in-chief to be criminally convicted on Thursday.
In an interview with George Stephanopoulos on “Good Morning America” on Friday morning, Cohen said that his 21 hours on the stand during the trial was incredibly tough.
“Whether it was on direct or on cross-examination, the whole thing was very tough,” Cohen said. “It was emotionally draining. You have to be perfect. I knew that any mistake that I made would … become the topic of conversation that would just explode. And so I really just needed to stay focused. It wasn’t easy with Todd Blanche. He’s a meanderer as it goes to questioning.”
Cohen also told Stephanopoulos that he was done lying and takes full responsibility for his role in the case.
“I want people to also remember, I take responsibility for what I did … I shouldn’t have done it,” Cohen said. “I don’t ignore my responsibility. I accepted it and in part went to prison for it.”
The former president pleaded not guilty and denied all wrongdoing. After the verdict was read, Trump railed against the judge, and called the trial “rigged [and] disgraceful.”
It took the jury 10 hours to come to their decision on Thursday and sentencing is scheduled for July 11, four days before the Republican National Convention.
“The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5, by the people, and they know what happened here and everybody knows what happened here,” Trump said after exiting the courtroom following his conviction.
(MINNEAPOLIS) — A Minneapolis police officer has died after they were “ambushed” while responding to a call about a shooting, officials said Thursday night.
Officers from the Minneapolis Police Department responded to reports of a double shooting on the 2200 block of Blaisdell Ave. S., earlier Thursday, the department’s assistant chief of operations, Katie Blackwell, told the media. Upon arriving, the officers immediately received gunfire and exchanged gunfire, she said.
Two officers were injured in the incident and taken to a nearby hospital. Officer Jamal Mitchell died at the hospital, she said. The second officer, who has not been named, suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to the assistant chief.
Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said Mitchell had just arrived on the scene and was rendering first aid when he was shot.
“As Officer Mitchell neared the scene, he located individuals that were injured and got out of his car, and as he was attempting to provide assistance to them — medical assistance — he was ambushed,” Evans said at Thursday’s media briefing.
Two individuals were found at the scene with gunshot wounds, according to Blackwell, who spoke at a press briefing Thursday night. One of the individuals was pronounced dead at the scene. The other person was gravely injured, she said.
A firefighter also suffered life-threatening injuries, Blackwell said.
The suspected gunman died at the scene, officials said.
Addressing the death of Officer Mitchell, Blackwell said he “was exceptional in every way.”
She said Mitchell joined their department a little over a year ago and received an award on his third day on the job. According to a February 2023 post on the department’s Facebook page, Mitchell was newly sworn in when, alongside a fellow officer, he helped save two older adults from a house fire.
People of the State of NY v Donald J Trump – Guilty on All counts. — ABC News
(NEW YORK) — Donald Trump, the second-generation New York business mogul who led one of the most consequential right-wing populist movements and changed the face of presidential politics, was found guilty of 34 felonies in his home city Thursday, becoming the first president in American history to be criminally convicted.
It took the jury 10 hours to come to their decision.
Trump, who was impeached twice while in office, faced four indictments as he geared up for the 2024 race. The case in Manhattan dealt with a hush money payment to a porn star and his attempt to hid salacious information from voters to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.
The former president pleaded not guilty and denied all wrongdoing. After the verdict was read, Trump railed against the judge, and called the trial “rigged [and] disgraceful.”
“The real verdict is going to be November 5, by the people, and they know what happened here and everybody knows what happened here,” Trump said to hallway cameras after angrily exiting the courtroom following his conviction.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 11, four days before the Republican National Convention.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg commended the jury Thursday for their work in the historic case.
“While this defendant may be unlike any other in American history, we arrived at this trial and ultimately today at this verdict in the same manner as every other case that comes to the courtroom doors by following the facts and the law, and doing so without fear or favor,” he said at a news conference later in the evening.
The verdict caps a yearslong legal saga that began not too long after Trump declared presidential run in 2015.
The ‘catch and kill’ deal that started it all
In August 2015, National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified that he met with Donald Trump and Michael Cohen in Trump Tower to discuss how his “magazines could do to help the campaign.”
Pecker told jurors that he agreed to serve as the “eyes and ears” of Trump’s presidential campaign by identifying negative stories about Trump related to women.
“The entire purpose of this meeting at Trump Tower was…to manipulate and defraud the voters, to pull the wool over their eyes in a coordinated fashion,” Manhattan prosecutor Joshua Steinglass told jurors during his closing statement about the alleged scheme.
To honor his agreement, Pecker testified that his company caught and killed two stories to help the campaign – paying $30,000 to a former Trump property doorman who falsely alleged that Trump had a child out of wedlock and $150,000 to Karen McDougal, who alleged a months-long affair with Trump, – an alleged affair the former president has long denied.
In October 2016, Pecker also flagged to Michael Cohen that adult film actress Stormy Daniels was shopping a story of her 2006 alleged sexual encounter with Trump, though Pecker declined to buy the story himself.
Michael Cohen testified that he brought the story directly to Trump – speaking with the then-Republican nominee nearly two dozen times in the month ahead of the election – and ultimately paid for the story out of his own pocket on Trump’s orders.
Trump later reimbursed Cohen in 2017 by making a series of $35,000 payments, labeled in business records as legal expenses pursuant to a retainer agreement.
Prosecutors alleged that Trump’s description of the payments disguised their true purpose so voters would never learn about the hush-money payment, though a 2018 Wall Street Journal report uncovered the payment.
“Of course, we will never know if this effort to hoodwink the American voter made the difference in the 2016 election, but that’s not something we have to prove,” Steinglass said. “The point is that the reimbursement to Cohen was cloaked in false business records to hide the conspiracy.”
A long road to indictment
When Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III was conducting his investigation into allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election, his office referred Trump’s lawyer Michael Cohen to federal prosecutors in New York’s Southern District.
It remains unclear what exactly prompted the referral, but by April 2018, the FBI had raided Cohen’s office, hotel room, and home. In August of that year, Cohen pleaded guilty to skirting campaign rules when he made payments to Daniels and McDougal.
The plea deal was seen as a major shock as Cohen has dutifully stood by Trump for years through numerous scandals and legal quandaries.
Trump himself was referenced in Cohen’s indictment as “Individual-1” who directed him to make the payments, but federal prosecutors opted to not charge Trump due to a longstanding guidance against indicting sitting presidents.
When Trump left office, prosecutors never reopened their investigation or brought charges against the former president. Next door from the federal prosecutors, Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr. – who had begun investigating Trump’s hush money payments in 2018 – opted to continue the investigation.
By 2021, Vance authorized his prosecutors to pursue a criminal indictment based on Trump’s exaggeration of his net worth. That investigation was ongoing when Vance left office, leaving the decision to his successor Alvin Bragg.
Bragg, however, determined that the case “wasn’t ready for takeoff,” prompting the resignation of two top prosecutors.
At the time, the case appeared dead in the water, but Bragg shook up his legal team and found success in the prosecution of the Trump Organization for a 15-year tax fraud scheme and a guilty plea from Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg. By 2023, a new case theory centered on the testimony of Michael Cohen emerged, and prosecutors successfully convinced a grand jury to indict the former president.
In April 2023, Trump became the first current or former president to be criminally indicted. He pleaded not guilty to 34 felony charges of falsifying business records stemming from his hush payment to Daniels.
The New York indictment became the first of four criminal cases against the former president. The other cases relate to his alleged conduct during the 2020 election and how he dealt with classified documents. He has pleaded not guilty in those cases and denies the charges.
Trump’s past takes center stage
After months of back and forth, including multiple attempts by Trump’s attorneys to have the case dismissed or delay the case, the trial began on April 15.
Prosecutors called 20 witnesses – including some of Trump’s closest advisors and deputies – to try to prove their case against the former president.
Prosecutors first called Pecker, who went into detail about the catch-and-kill agreement he made with Trump and Cohen during and after the 2016 campaign.
The former publisher also described how after securing the presidency, Trump kept tabs on the women he and Cohen had paid off.
Rhona Graff, Trump’s longtime assistant, testified that she recalled seeing Daniels in the reception of the executive floor of Trump Tower.
Daniels would eventually take the stand, coming face to face with the former president for the first time in over a decade, and recounted their alleged sexual encounter, which Trump continues to deny.
“I told very few people that we had actually had sex because I felt ashamed that I didn’t stop it, that I didn’t say no,” Daniels told jurors.
Trump attorney Susan Necheles got into a heated cross-examination with Daniels questioning the validity of her claims and arguing she was making it up to extort money from Trump.
“You have a lot of experience of making phony stories about sex appear to be real?” Necheles asked.
“The sex in the films is very real, just like what happened to me in that room,” she said on the stand.
Things got even more heated when prosecutors concluded their their case by calling Cohen himself.
Cohen contended that Trump ordered him to “just do it,” referring to the payoff during the end of the campaign, as word of the alleged affair with Daniels would have been “catastrophic.”
“He stated to me that he had spoken to some friends, some individuals, very smart people. It’s $130,000. Just pay it,” Cohen testified.
Defense attorney Todd Blanche launched an attack on Cohen’s credibility noting his previous perjury convictions and lies to the press.
Specifically, he accused Cohen of lying about a phone call he said he had with Donald Trump on Oct. 24, 2016, showing phone records that indicated Cohen called Trump’s bodyguard.
Defense lawyers presented evidence that Cohen actually made the call to complain to Trump’s bodyguard about a teenage prank caller.
Cohen, who remained calm during his time on the stand, stood by his testimony and said the bodyguard gave the phone to Trump.
Trump chose not to take the stand in his own defense, however, he was very vocal as the trial unfolded.
Drama inside and outside the court
Ever since the indictment was handed down to him, Trump repeatedly lashed out against key players in the case – including Cohen, Daniels, Bragg and Judge Juan Merchan, the judge presiding over the case – to the press during rallies and on social media.
Trump’s frequent attacks ultimately prompted the Merchan to issue a limited gag order prohibiting Trump from making public comments about the witnesses, jury, and family of Bragg or Merchan.
During the trial, Merchan found Trump in criminal contempt ten times for Trump’s repeated violations of the gag order, threatening to imprison the former president for future violations.
Cohen would also slam Trump on social media and his podcast before and during the trial despite being a key witness set to take the stand.
Trump’s defense used Cohen’s comments and social media posts during their cross-examination to argue that he was seeking payback against Trump.
Trump’s allies show up for support
The police prepared for huge throngs of Trump’s supporters to rally outside the Manhattan courthouse during the trial, going as far as to set up a barricaded section, but the crowds were small.
Among the Trump supporters who did travel to New York to back him and criticize the investigation were House Speaker Mike Johnson, Sen. Tommy Tuberville and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
Johnson said in a statement after the verdict that it was a “shameful day in American history.”
“This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one,” he said in a statement. “President Trump will rightfully appeal this absurd verdict—and he WILL WIN!”
The fundraising page for Trump’s campaign went down for a few minutes after it was made public following the verdict. The campaign is claiming the platform was shut down “due to overwhelming amount of support.”
Trump attended a campaign fundraiser hours after the verdict, “He was fired up,” a gentleman exiting the fundraiser told ABC News.
Another insider told ABC News the mood of the fundraiser was “very upbeat.”
What’s next
This is not the end of Trump’s legal challenges.
The former president was indicted twice by Special Counsel Jack Smith on federal charges related to Trump’s his alleged interference with the 2020 election and alleged keeping of classified government documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate.
Trump is also facing state charges in Fulton County, Georgia, over his alleged interference with the 2020 election.
The former president has pleaded not guilty to those charges and denied all wrongdoing.
ABC News’ Aaron Katersky, Rachel Scott, Kelsey Walsh and John Santucci contributed to this report.
(NEW YORK) — Former President Donald Trump has been found guilty on all 34 felony counts related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. It marks the first time in history that a former U.S. president has been convicted on criminal charges.
Trump last April pleaded not guilty to a 34-count indictment charging him with falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen made to Daniels in order to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.
Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:
May 30, 6:58 PM Manhattan DA thanks jurors, hails verdict
At a post-verdict news conference, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who brought the case against Trump, thanked the jurors.
“We should all be thankful for the careful attention that this jury paid to the evidence and the law, and their time and commitment over these past several weeks,” Bragg said.
“Twelve everyday New Yorkers, and of course our alternates, heard testimony from 22 witnesses, including former and current employees of the defendant, media executives, book publishers, custodians of records and others. They reviewed call logs, text messages and emails. They heard recordings. They saw checks and invoices, bank statements and calendar appointments,” Bragg said.
“Their deliberations led them to a unanimous conclusion beyond a reasonable doubt,” Bragg said.
“While this defendant may be unlike any other in American history, we arrived at this trial — and ultimately today at this verdict — in the same manner as every other case that comes through the courtroom doors: by following the facts and the law, and doing so without fear or favor,” Bragg said.
When former President Donald Trump returned to Trump Tower after court, he greeted those standing outside the Midtown building, waving and pumping his fist.
In a written statement, Trump called Judge Juan Merchan “corrupt” and twice called him “conflicted.”
“This was a rigged decision right from Day 1,” Trump said.
“We didn’t do a thing wrong. I’m a very innocent man,” he said.
Trump will attend a fundraiser in New York Thursday night for his 2024 campaign. The former president will stay at Trump Tower Thursday night, then is scheduled to hold a news conference there at 11 a.m. ET Friday.
May 30, 6:14 PM Stormy Daniels ‘relieved’ case is over
Adult film actress Stormy Daniels, one of the star witnesses for the prosecution, is “relieved” the case is over, her attorney Clark Brewster said in a statement.
“No man is above the law, and the selfless hardworking service of each of these jurors should be respected and appreciated,” Brewster said.
Daniels, whose hush money payment was at the center of the case, provided some of the most gripping testimony of the trial, describing in detail her alleged 2006 sexual encounter with Donald Trump, which he denies.
May 30, 6:02 PM ‘The truth always matters,’ Michael Cohen says
The prosecution’s star witness, former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, called today’s verdict “an important day for accountability and the rule of law.”
“While it has been a difficult journey for me and my family, the truth always matters,” he said.
May 30, 5:57 PM ‘The fix was always in,’ says Trump adviser
Two senior Trump advisers who ABC News spoke with were extremely angry after the verdict.
Both said they were not surprised by the jury’s decision. One said, “The fix was always in,” and the other added, “Not surprised — it’s New York.”
Donald Trump Jr., reacting to his father’s guilty verdict, said, “The Democrats have succeeded in their yearslong attempt to turn America into a third-world s—hole. Nov. 5 is our last chance to save it.”
May 30, 5:40 PM Biden campaign reacts to verdict
The guilty verdict shows “no one is above the law,” a representative for President Joe Biden’s campaign said, adding, “But today’s verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box.”
“Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president,” Michael Tyler, communications director for the Biden-Harris campaign, said in a statement.
“A second Trump term means chaos, ripping away Americans’ freedoms and fomenting political violence — and the American people will reject it this November,” Tyler said.
The White House offered a very brief comment, with a White House Counsel’s Office spokesperson saying, “We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment.”
Among the congressional response, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, who traveled to Manhattan days ago to support Trump at the trial, said in a statement, “Today is a shameful day in American history. Democrats cheered as they convicted the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges, predicated on the testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon.”
“President Trump will rightfully appeal this absurd verdict — and he WILL WIN!” Johnson said.
May 30, 5:34 PM Trump campaign is fundraising off verdict: ‘I’m a political prisoner!’
Former President Donald Trump’s campaign is already fundraising off of the guilty verdicts in his hush money trial, telling his supporters he has been convicted in a “rigged” trial.
“I was just convicted in a RIGGED political Witch Hunt trial: I DID NOTHING WRONG!” a fundraising email said. “They’ve raided my home, arrested me, took my mugshot, AND NOW THEY’VE JUST CONVICTED ME!” the email continues.
The email links to a fundraising page, in which Trump told his supporters, “I’m a political prisoner!”
May 30, 5:31 PM Trump says he’s ‘very innocent’ after guilty verdicts
After he was found guilty on all counts in his historic criminal hush money case, former President Donald Trump angrily walked out of the courtroom and said, “The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5, by the people. And they know what happened here and everybody knows what happened here.”
“This was a rigged, disgraceful trial,” the former president told reporters. “I’m a very innocent man.”
Trump blamed the Biden administration and Judge Juan Merchan.
“This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound or hurt an opponent, a political opponent, and I think it’s a just a disgrace,” he said, without evidence. “And we’ll keep fighting, we’ll fight ’til the end and we’ll win.”
“This was a rigged decision right from day one, with a conflicted judge who should have never been allowed to try this case — never. And we will fight for our Constitution,” he said.
May 30, 5:28 PM Trump departs, sentencing set for July 11
Sentencing has been set for July 11.
The Republican National Convention begins July 15 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Former President Donald Trump was released without bail.
Trump marched out of the courtroom, flinging his arms as he walked.
May 30, 5:25 PM Judge thanks jurors for ‘stressful’ task
Judge Merchan thanked the jurors for their service after the verdict.
“I can see how involved, engaged and invested you were in this process,” he said.
“You were engaged in a very stressful and difficult task. … I want you to know I really admire your dedication, your hard work,” Merchan said.
Trump sat motionless as the judge spoke to the jurors.
Merchan’s last words to the jurors were, “You are excused with the gratitude of the court. Thank you.”
May 30, 5:20 PM Trump shakes head at verdict
Former President Donald Trump started slowly shaking his head at count 4, then stopped and sat motionless as the rest of the guilty verdicts were read.
As the last five counts were read, Trump was entirely stone-faced, with his lips pursed, looking down at the floor.
Trump at some points looked over at the jurors.
A group of demonstrators outside the courthouse cheered and shouted “lock him up” and “USA” after the verdict was read.
May 30, 5:17 PM Verdict breakdown by count
Former President Trump was convicted on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in order to hide a hush money payment to boost his prospects in the 2016 election. Here are each of the records he was charged with falsifying, and the verdict for each.
1) An invoice from Michael Cohen dated Feb. 14, 2017 – GUILTY
2) An entry in the Detail General Ledger for the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust on or about Feb. 14, 2017 – GUILTY
3) An entry in the Detail General Ledger for the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust on or about Feb. 14, 2017 – GUILTY
4) A Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust Account check and check stub dated Feb. 14, 2017 – GUILTY
5) An invoice from Michael Cohen dated Feb. 16, 2017 and transmitted on or about March 16, 2017 – GUILTY
6) An entry in the Detail General Ledger for the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust on or about March 17, 2017 – GUILTY
7) A Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust Account check and check stub dated March 17, 2017 – GUILTY
8) An invoice from Michael Cohen dated April 13, 2017 – GUILTY
9) An entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump on or about June 19, 2017 – GUILTY
10) A Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated June 19, 2017 – GUILTY
11) An invoice from Michael Cohen dated May 22, 2017 – GUILTY
12) An entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump on or about May 22, 2017 – GUILTY
13) A Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated May 23, 2017 – GUILTY
14) An invoice from Michael Cohen dated June 16, 2017 – GUILTY
15) An entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump on or about June 19, 2017 – GUILTY
16) A Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated June 19, 2017 – GUILTY
17) An invoice from Michael Cohen dated July 11, 2017 – GUILTY
18) An entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump on or about July 11, 2017 – GUILTY
19) A Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated July 11, 2017 – GUILTY
20) An invoice from Michael Cohen dated Aug. 1, 2017 – GUILTY
21) An entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump on or about Aug. 1, 2017 – GUILTY
22) A Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated Aug. 1, 2017 – GUILTY
23) An invoice from Michael Cohen dated Sept. 11, 2017 – GUILTY
24) An entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump on or about Sept. 11, 2017 – GUILTY
25) A Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated Sept. 12, 2017 – GUILTY
26) An invoice from Michael Cohen dated Oct. 18, 2017 – GUILTY
27) An entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump on or about Oct. 18, 2017 – GUILTY
28) A Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated Oct. 18, 2017 – GUILTY
29) An invoice from Michael Cohen dated Nov. 20, 2017 – GUILTY
30) An entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump on or about Nov. 20, 2017 – GUILTY
31) A Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated Nov. 21, 2017 – GUILTY
32) An invoice from Michael Cohen dated Dec. 1, 2017 – GUILTY
33) An entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump on or about Dec. 1, 2017 – GUILTY
34) A Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated Dec. 5, 2017 – GUILTY
May 30, 5:07 PM Trump found guilty on all counts in historic case
Former President Trump has been found guilty on all counts in his historic criminal hush money case.
As the first former president charged with a criminal offense, Trump also now becomes the first former president to be convicted of a crime.
May 30, 4:52 PM Trump stone-faced as he awaits verdict
Donald Trump, awaiting the verdict that will be read at around 5 p.m. ET, sat at the defense table, arms very tightly crossed. He was stone-faced, nodding as his attorney Todd Blanche whispered into his ear.
The top court officer entered the courtroom, looked around, and walked out.
DA Alvin Bragg subsequently entered the courtroom.
May 30, 4:40 PM Verdict has been reached, judge says
Judge Merchan announced that a verdict has been reached.
The jury requested an extra 30 minutes, Merchan said.
“Please let there be no outbursts, no reactions of any kind when we take the verdict,” Merchan asked.
There was an audible gasp in the courtroom when Merchan announced that a verdict had been reached.
May 30, 12:55 PM Court recesses for lunch
Court has recessed for lunch, with the jury pausing their deliberations.
Deliberations are scheduled to resume after the break, at 2:15 p.m. ET.
May 30, 12:27 PM Trump, on social media, says ‘I don’t buy stories’
While the jury deliberates, Trump — from the courthouse — posted to social media about the readback that the jury just heard.
During the readback, the jury heard former National Enquirer publisher testify about a June 2016 phone call he had with Trump after Playboy model Karen McDougal came forward with a story of a year-long affair with Trump, which Trump has steadfastly denied.
“This story about Karen, since she’s claiming that she has a relationship with you, should be taken off the market,” Pecker recounted telling Trump — to which Trump replied, “I don’t normally — I don’t buy stories because it always gets out.”
“I still think you should buy the story,” Pecker testified that he told Trump, to which Trump replied, “I’ll speak to Michael, and he’ll get back to you.”
In his social media post, Trump said, “Testimony conclusively showed that I clearly stated, “I DON’T BUY STORIES!” — Not that there would be anything wrong with doing that — NDA’s [nondisclosure agreements] are PERFECTLY LEGAL AND COMMON!”
Pecker testified that the National Enquirer eventually paid McDougal $150,000 to catch and kill her story so it would not become public, under the expectation that the money would be reimbursed by Trump — although the reimbursement never materialized.
-Kelsey Walsh
May 30, 11:26 AM Jury resumes deliberations after readbacks
At the conclusion of the readback, Judge Merchan asked the jury if he had satisfied both their requests.
“Yes sir,” the jury foreman said.
The Trump wrote another note and threw it at Blanche.
The note landed in Blanche’s lap, where he picked it up and read it.
May 30, 10:57 AM Jury rehears Pecker’s testimony about Trump, National Enquirer
The jury heard a readback of David Pecker’s testimony about Donald Trump dating the “most beautiful women,” the National Enquirer’s coverage of Bill Clinton’s “womanizing,” and the “mutually beneficial” relationship between the tabloid and the Trump campaign.
Q: Can you explain to the jury how the topic of women in particular came up?
A: Well, in a presidential campaign I was the person that thought that there would be a number — a lot of women come out to try to sell their stories, because Mr. Trump was well-known as the most eligible bachelor and dated the most beautiful women. And it was clear that based on my past experience, that when someone is running for a public office like this, the — it is very common for these women to call up a magazine like the National Enquirer to try to sell their stories. Or I would hear it in the marketplace through other sources that stories are being marketed.
Q: Did you have or express any ideas about how you may be able to help kind of deal with those stories by women?
A: All I said was I would notify Michael Cohen.
Q: What about Bill and Hillary Clinton, did their names up during this meeting?
A: Yes.
Q: Can you explain how?
A: As I mentioned earlier, my having the National Enquirer, which is a weekly magazine, and you focus on the cover of the magazine and who — and who and what is the story that is the topic of the week, the Hillary running for president and Bill Clinton’s womanizing was the biggest, one of the biggest sales I had for the National Enquirer and the other tabloids, that’s the other things that the readers wanted to read about and that’s what I would sell weekly. So I was running the Hillary Clinton stories. I was running Hillary as an enabler for Bill Clinton, with respect to all of the womanizing. And I was — it was easy for me to say that I’m going to continue running those type of stories for the National Enquirer.
Q: And did you believe that that would help Mr. Trump’s campaign?
A: I think it was a mutual benefit. It would help his campaign; it would also help me.
The jury also heard the testimony where Pecker testified that he never purchased stories to kill for Trump prior to the 2016 election.
Q: And what was the purpose of notifying Michael Cohen when you came upon stories like that?
A: Well, as I did in the past, that would be in the past eight years, when I notified Michael Cohen of a story that was a negative story, he would try to vet it himself to see if the story was true or not. He would go to the individual publication to get the story to make sure the story wasn’t published and getting killed.
Q: Prior to that August 2015 meeting, had you ever purchased a story to not print it about Mr. Trump?
A: No.
May 30, 10:50 AM Court reporters read out Pecker testimony about 2015 meeting
The court reporters read out the first portion of the testimony about David Pecker’s recollection of the August 2015 Trump Tower meeting.
His testimony is as follows:
At that meeting, Donald Trump and Michael, they asked me what can I do and what my magazines could do to help the campaign. So thinking about it, as I did previously, I said what I would do is I would run or publish positive stories about Mr. Trump and I would publish negative stories about his opponents. And I said that I would also be the eyes and ears of your – I said I would be your eyes and ears because I know that the Trump Organization had a very small staff. And then I said that anything that I hear in the marketplace, if I hear anything negative about yourself or if I hear anything about women selling stories, I would notify Michael Cohen, as I did over the last several years, I would notify Michael Cohen and then he would be able to have them kill in another magazine or have them not be published or somebody would have to purchase them.
May 30, 10:47 AM Court reporters read out Pecker testimony about McDougal
The court reporters read out the first portion of the testimony about David Pecker’s recollection of why the deal to transfer the life rights of Karen McDougal’s story to Trump fell through.
His testimony is as follows:
I called Michael Cohen, and I said to him that the agreement, the assignment deal is off. I am not going forward. It is a bad idea, and I want you to rip up the agreement. He was very, very, angry. Very upset. Screaming, basically, at me. And I said, I am not going forward with this agreement. Rip it up. And he said, excuse me, Michael Cohen said, The Boss is going to be very angry at you. I said, I am sorry. I am not going forward. The deal is off. And he said, I can’t believe it. I am a lawyer. I am your friend. I don’t understand why you are so concerned. I said, I am very concerned, and I am not going forward, period. And I said, are you going to rip it up or not? And he said, I will take care of it.
May 30, 10:39 AM Court reporters read out Pecker’s testimony about Trump call
The court reporters read out the portions of then-National Enquirer publisher David Pecker’s testimony about his June 2016 call with Trump, under questioning from prosecutors.
Q: And could you tell us about the conversation you had that day with Donald Trump?
A: Yes. When I got on the phone, Mr. Trump said to me: “I spoke to Michael. Karen is a nice girl.” “Is it true that a Mexican group is looking to buy her story for 8 million dollars?” I said — I said: “I absolutely don’t believe that there is a Mexican group out there to buy a story for $8 million dollars.” And then he said: “What do you think I should do?” I said: “I think you should buy the story and take it off the market.”
Q: So when the subject of Karen McDougal came up, Donald Trump described her as a nice girl?
A: Yes.
Q: Based on your conversation with Mr. Trump, did you have an understanding as to whether he was aware of the specifics of Karen McDougal’s description of the affair?
A Yes, I did.
Q: What made you come to such an understanding?
A: I think that Michael Cohen gave him the — spoke to Donald Trump, which he said he was going to — which — excuse me — which Donald Trump said on the phone that, “I spoke to Michael.” And I believe that when Mr. Trump said that to me over the phone that she was a nice girl, I believe that he knew who she was —
Q: Why would you recommend to Donald Trump purchasing the story?
A: I believed the story was true. I think that it would have been very embarrassing to himself and also to his campaign.
Q: After your conversation with Donald Trump, did you have another conversation with Michael Cohen?
A: Yes. On the conversation with Donald Trump, he said to me, clearly, that he doesn’t buy stories because it always gets out. And he said to me that Michael Cohen would be calling me. He was going to speak to Michael and he would be calling me back.
A: I said that — that, “This story about Karen, since she’s claiming that she has a relationship with you, should be taken off the market.” And Mr. Trump said, “I don’t normally — I don’t buy stories because it always gets out.” And then I said, “I still think you should buy the story.” And Mr. Trump said to me, “I’ll speak to Michael, and he’ll get back to you.”
Q: And so, as you sit here today, you remember that during that conversation, you said to President Trump: It is my understanding that she doesn’t want her story published?
A: (Pause). Yes. I did. I remember saying that.
The Trump wrote another note and threw it at Blanche.
The note landed in Blanche’s lap, where he picked it up and read it.
May 30, 10:57 AM Jury rehears Pecker’s testimony about Trump, National Enquirer
The jury heard a readback of David Pecker’s testimony about Donald Trump dating the “most beautiful women,” the National Enquirer’s coverage of Bill Clinton’s “womanizing,” and the “mutually beneficial” relationship between the tabloid and the Trump campaign.
Q: Can you explain to the jury how the topic of women in particular came up?
A: Well, in a presidential campaign I was the person that thought that there would be a number — a lot of women come out to try to sell their stories, because Mr. Trump was well-known as the most eligible bachelor and dated the most beautiful women. And it was clear that based on my past experience, that when someone is running for a public office like this, the — it is very common for these women to call up a magazine like the National Enquirer to try to sell their stories. Or I would hear it in the marketplace through other sources that stories are being marketed.
Q: Did you have or express any ideas about how you may be able to help kind of deal with those stories by women?
A: All I said was I would notify Michael Cohen.
Q: What about Bill and Hillary Clinton, did their names up during this meeting?
A: Yes.
Q: Can you explain how?
A: As I mentioned earlier, my having the National Enquirer, which is a weekly magazine, and you focus on the cover of the magazine and who — and who and what is the story that is the topic of the week, the Hillary running for president and Bill Clinton’s womanizing was the biggest, one of the biggest sales I had for the National Enquirer and the other tabloids, that’s the other things that the readers wanted to read about and that’s what I would sell weekly. So I was running the Hillary Clinton stories. I was running Hillary as an enabler for Bill Clinton, with respect to all of the womanizing. And I was — it was easy for me to say that I’m going to continue running those type of stories for the National Enquirer.
Q: And did you believe that that would help Mr. Trump’s campaign?
A: I think it was a mutual benefit. It would help his campaign; it would also help me.
The jury also heard the testimony where Pecker testified that he never purchased stories to kill for Trump prior to the 2016 election.
Q: And what was the purpose of notifying Michael Cohen when you came upon stories like that?
A: Well, as I did in the past, that would be in the past eight years, when I notified Michael Cohen of a story that was a negative story, he would try to vet it himself to see if the story was true or not. He would go to the individual publication to get the story to make sure the story wasn’t published and getting killed.
Q: Prior to that August 2015 meeting, had you ever purchased a story to not print it about Mr. Trump?
A: No.
May 30, 10:50 AM Court reporters read out Pecker testimony about 2015 meeting
The court reporters read out the first portion of the testimony about David Pecker’s recollection of the August 2015 Trump Tower meeting.
His testimony is as follows:
At that meeting, Donald Trump and Michael, they asked me what can I do and what my magazines could do to help the campaign. So thinking about it, as I did previously, I said what I would do is I would run or publish positive stories about Mr. Trump and I would publish negative stories about his opponents. And I said that I would also be the eyes and ears of your – I said I would be your eyes and ears because I know that the Trump Organization had a very small staff. And then I said that anything that I hear in the marketplace, if I hear anything negative about yourself or if I hear anything about women selling stories, I would notify Michael Cohen, as I did over the last several years, I would notify Michael Cohen and then he would be able to have them kill in another magazine or have them not be published or somebody would have to purchase them.
May 30, 10:47 AM Court reporters read out Pecker testimony about McDougal
The court reporters read out the first portion of the testimony about David Pecker’s recollection of why the deal to transfer the life rights of Karen McDougal’s story to Trump fell through.
His testimony is as follows:
I called Michael Cohen, and I said to him that the agreement, the assignment deal is off. I am not going forward. It is a bad idea, and I want you to rip up the agreement. He was very, very, angry. Very upset. Screaming, basically, at me. And I said, I am not going forward with this agreement. Rip it up. And he said, excuse me, Michael Cohen said, The Boss is going to be very angry at you. I said, I am sorry. I am not going forward. The deal is off. And he said, I can’t believe it. I am a lawyer. I am your friend. I don’t understand why you are so concerned. I said, I am very concerned, and I am not going forward, period. And I said, are you going to rip it up or not? And he said, I will take care of it.
May 30, 10:39 AM Court reporters read out Pecker’s testimony about Trump call
The court reporters read out the portions of then-National Enquirer publisher David Pecker’s testimony about his June 2016 call with Trump, under questioning from prosecutors.
Q: And could you tell us about the conversation you had that day with Donald Trump?
A: Yes. When I got on the phone, Mr. Trump said to me: “I spoke to Michael. Karen is a nice girl.” “Is it true that a Mexican group is looking to buy her story for 8 million dollars?” I said — I said: “I absolutely don’t believe that there is a Mexican group out there to buy a story for $8 million dollars.” And then he said: “What do you think I should do?” I said: “I think you should buy the story and take it off the market.”
Q: So when the subject of Karen McDougal came up, Donald Trump described her as a nice girl?
A: Yes.
Q: Based on your conversation with Mr. Trump, did you have an understanding as to whether he was aware of the specifics of Karen McDougal’s description of the affair?
A Yes, I did.
Q: What made you come to such an understanding?
A: I think that Michael Cohen gave him the — spoke to Donald Trump, which he said he was going to — which — excuse me — which Donald Trump said on the phone that, “I spoke to Michael.” And I believe that when Mr. Trump said that to me over the phone that she was a nice girl, I believe that he knew who she was —
Q: Why would you recommend to Donald Trump purchasing the story?
A: I believed the story was true. I think that it would have been very embarrassing to himself and also to his campaign.
Q: After your conversation with Donald Trump, did you have another conversation with Michael Cohen?
A: Yes. On the conversation with Donald Trump, he said to me, clearly, that he doesn’t buy stories because it always gets out. And he said to me that Michael Cohen would be calling me. He was going to speak to Michael and he would be calling me back.
A: I said that — that, “This story about Karen, since she’s claiming that she has a relationship with you, should be taken off the market.” And Mr. Trump said, “I don’t normally — I don’t buy stories because it always gets out.” And then I said, “I still think you should buy the story.” And Mr. Trump said to me, “I’ll speak to Michael, and he’ll get back to you.”
Q: And so, as you sit here today, you remember that during that conversation, you said to President Trump: It is my understanding that she doesn’t want her story published?
A: (Pause). Yes. I did. I remember saying that.
May 30, 10:35 AM Court reporters begin reading back testimony
Judge Merchan concluded the rereading of the jury instruction. The jury foreman confirmed in open court that the readback of the instructions were responsive to the jury’s note.
The court reporters then began reading the transcript portions, with two court reporters role playing the transcript — one playing the prosecutor and the other playing David Pecker.
Trump looked around, craning his neck, and then began listening to the testimony.
May 30, 10:24 AM Merchan re-explains legal theory of case
Judge Merchan again explained the legal theory at the center of the case.
Prosecutors allege that Trump falsified business records in order to hide a violation of New York election law.
“Under our law, a person is guilty of such a conspiracy when, with intent that conduct be performed that would promote or prevent the election of a person to public office by unlawful means, he or she agrees with one or more persons to engage in or cause the performance of such conduct,” Merchan said.
Prosecutors offered three theories about the unlawful means: a tax crime, falsification of bank records, or campaign finance violations. The jury does not need to be unanimous about which theory they believe.
“Although you must conclude unanimously that the defendant conspired to promote or prevent the election of any person to a public office by unlawful means, you need not be unanimous as to what those unlawful means were,” Merchan said.
In a social media post last night, Trump falsely claimed Judge Merchan was “not requiring a unanimous decision” in the case. Merchan reiterated that the jury does indeed need to be in full agreement about their verdict that Trump falsified business records in furtherance of another crime — but they don’t have to agree on which of the three proposed unlawful means were used to corrupt the election.
Trump, at the defense table, dozed off for a few minutes as Merchan continued his reread. Trump’s head was resting on his chest. He then jolted up, shaking his head.
May 30, 10:20 AM Judge rereads the law on Count 1
Judge Merchan reread the law on Count 1 against Trump.
“Under our law, a person is guilty of falsifying business records in the first degree when, with intent to defraud that includes an intent to commit another crime or to aid or conceal the commission thereof, that person makes or causes a false entry in the business records of an enterprise,” he said.
He then read definitions of enterprise, business record, intent, and other terms used in the description.
May 30, 10:16 AM Jury again hears about Cohen being an accomplice
Judge Merchan reread the portion of the instructions about Michael Cohen’s testimony because he is an “accomplice” the in alleged crime.
This is a standard legal instruction about the testimony of an accomplice. Per the instructions, the jury cannot convict based solely on Cohen’s testimony unless it is corroborated by evidence. If he testified about something to which there is no other evidence or testimony, the jury cannot convict on that testimony alone.
Those instructions read as follows:
Under our law, Michael Cohen is an accomplice because there is evidence that he participated in a crime based upon conduct involved in the allegations here against the defendant.
Our law is especially concerned about the testimony of an accomplice who implicates another in the commission of a crime, particularly when the accomplice has received, expects or hopes for a benefit in return for his testimony.
Therefore, our law provides that a defendant may not be convicted of any crime upon the testimony of an accomplice unless it is supported by corroborative evidence tending to connect the defendant with the commission of that crime.
In other words, even if you find the testimony of Michael Cohen to be believable, you may not convict the defendant solely upon that testimony unless you also find that it was corroborated by other evidence tending to connect the defendant with the commission of the crime.
The corroborative evidence need not, by itself, prove that a crime was committed or that the defendant is guilty. What the law requires is that there be evidence that tends to connect the defendant with the commission of the crime charged in such a way as may reasonably satisfy you that the accomplice is telling the truth about the defendant’s participation in that crime.
In determining whether there is the necessary corroboration, you may consider whether there is material, believable evidence, apart from the testimony of Michael Cohen, which itself tends to connect the defendant with the commission of the crime.
May 30, 10:12 AM Judge rereads instructions on witness’ criminal conduct
The jury reheard how to handle a witness who has been convicted of a crime — also relevant to Michael Cohen.
“You are not required to reject the testimony of a witness who has been convicted of a crime or has engaged in criminal conduct, or to accept the testimony of a witness who has not,” Judge Merchan said. “You may, however, consider whether a witness’ criminal conviction or conduct has affected the truthfulness of the witness’s testimony.”
May 30, 10:07 AM Jury again hears about witnesses and reasonable doubt
As Judge Merchan reread the jury instructions, the jury again hears what exactly is reasonable doubt in the eyes of the law.
“A reasonable doubt is an honest doubt of the defendant’s guilt for which a reason exists based upon the nature and quality of the evidence. It is an actual doubt, not an imaginary doubt. It is a doubt that a reasonable person, acting in a matter of this importance, would be likely to entertain because of the evidence that was presented or because of the lack of convincing evidence,” Merchan said.
The jury also heard again how to judge the credibility of a witness.
“You must decide whether a witness told the truth and was accurate, or instead, testified falsely or was mistaken,” Merchan said. Trump’s team had hammered the credibility of Michael Cohen, saying he had an “ax to grind” — and who they will rehear testimony from again later this morning.
“You may consider whether a witness had, or did not have, a motive to lie,” Merchan instructed them. “If a witness had a motive to lie, you may consider whether and to what extent, if any, that motive affected the truthfulness of that witness’s testimony.”
May 30, 10:03 AM Judge rereads instructions on Trump’s decision not to testify
Jurors are paying close attention as Judge Merchan rereads his instructions. Some are taking notes with a few nodding along with him as he reads.
The jury again hears from Merchan that they should not draw negative inferences from Trump’s decision not to testify.
“The fact that the defendant did not testify is not a factor from which any inference unfavorable to the defendant may be drawn,” Merchan said. “The defendant is not required to prove that he is not guilty. In fact, the defendant is not required to prove or disprove anything. To the contrary, the People have the burden of proving the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Trump, at the defense table, is reclined in his chair but angled to face Merchan.
May 30, 9:59 AM Requested instructions involve drawing evidentiary inferences
The jury specifically requested to hear the portion of the jury instruction that compared the drawing of inferences to concluding that a rain storm had passed outside.
They read as follows:
In evaluating the evidence, you may consider any fact that is proven and any inference which may be drawn from such fact. To draw an inference means to infer, find, conclude that a fact exists or does not exist based upon proof of some other fact or facts.
For example, suppose you go to bed one night when it is not raining and when you wake up in the morning, you look out your window; you do not see rain, but you see that the street and sidewalk are wet, and that people are wearing raincoats and carrying umbrellas.
Under those circumstances, it may be reasonable to infer, that is conclude, that it rained during the night. In other words, the fact of it having rained while you were asleep is an inference that might be drawn from the proven facts of the presence of the water on the street and sidewalk, and people in raincoats and carrying umbrellas.
An inference must only be drawn from a proven fact or facts and then only if the inference flows naturally, reasonably, and logically from the proven fact or facts, not if it is speculative. Therefore, in deciding whether to draw an inference, you must look at and consider all the facts in the light of reason, common sense, and experience.
May 30, 9:54 AM Judge begins rereading jury instructions
The jury entered the courtroom, and Judge Merchan began by reading back their two notes from yesterday.
In preparation for the reading of the transcript, the judge said, “We are ready to read it back to you in one minute.”
Trump, at the defense table, briefly looked over at the jury.
Asked by Merchan whether they wanted the transcript or instructions first, the jury foreman responded to Merchan in open court that the jury would like the “Instructions first.”
Merchan then began rereading the instructions, beginning on page 6.
May 30, 9:44 AM Jury wants readback on how to consider evidence
“We did receive another note” from the jury this morning, Judge Merchan said.
According to Merchan, the jury wants the readback to begin with a description of how the jury should consider that evidence, and what should be drawn from the testimony.
Second, the jury said they want headphones “for use with the evidence laptop.”
Merchan says the jury will get both headphones and a speaker so they can listen to the evidence.
May 30, 9:40 AM Proceedings are underway
Judge Juan Merchan took his seat on the bench and began the day’s proceedings.
After introductions from the lawyers, Merchan said his usual, “Good morning, Mr. Trump.”
Before Merchan entered the courtroom, one of the court officers left a document on the bench and handed copies to both parties.
May 30, 9:21 AM Trump, prosecutors arrive
Former President Trump has entered the courthouse for the day’s proceedings.
The prosecution team has arrived in the courtroom. Prosecutor Josh Steinglass was seen reviewing documents with a court reporter.
May 30, 8:57 AM Court staff preparing binders for readback testimony
Ahead of the start of deliberations this morning, court stenographers are sorting through seven enormous transcript binders that are scattered around the jury box.
With the jury requesting readbacks of testimony, the transcripts are set to play a key role in this morning’s proceedings.
About 60 members of the press are packed into the gallery ahead of the proceedings.
May 30, 8:21 AM Trump team hoping for a hung jury, say sources
As jurors begin their second day of deliberations, Trump’s legal team feels that the longer the jury deliberates, the more they’re hoping for a hung jury, sources told ABC News.
Trump’s lawyers see the requests the jury has made to rehear testimony from the case as a mixed bag, the sources said — not positive news that jurors wanted to rehear former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker’s testimony, but at the same time feeling optimistic that jurors requested portions of Michael Cohen’s transcript.
Trump’s attorneys are looking for any indication that the jury will probe issues surrounding Cohen’s credibility, which cuts to the core of their defense, according to the sources.
“We want chaos … we want evidence of strong disagreements,” one person close to Trump’s legal team said regarding the jury, signaling their hope that at least one juror will raise doubts about the theories presented by the prosecution.
May 30, 7:18 AM Jury to begin second day of deliberations
The jury in Donald Trump’s criminal trial will return to court this morning for their second day of deliberations in the historic case.
After receiving instructions on the law from the judge yesterday morning, the jurors deliberated the case for four and a half hours and sent back two notes, asking to listen to testimony from two key witnesses in the case and to rehear the judge’s instructions on the law.
The jury requested to rehear former National Enquirer David Pecker’s testimony about a June 2016 phone call with Trump regarding the tabloid’s response to a potential story about former Playboy model Karen McDougal’s alleged year-long affair with Trump — which he has denied — as well as Pecker’s decision about allocating the rights to her story.
Jurors also requested to hear both Pecker and Michael Cohen’s testimony about the August 2015 Trump Tower meeting where the plan to catch and kill negative stories originated.
Judge Juan Merchan estimated that the entire readback will take approximately 35 minutes, and he also asked the jury to clarify this morning which portion of the instruction they would like read back.
