(ARIZONA) — An officer and a civilian were killed while another officer and three others were wounded in a shooting incident in the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona early Saturday morning, police said.
Officers were responding to an incident involving a large crowd at a home in Santan, District 4 in the community around 2 a.m. local time, when multiple gunshots were fired, according to the Gila River Police Department.
Six people were shot in total during the incident, including Officer Joshua Briese, who succumbed to his injuries at the hospital, the police said. Briese had been with the force for less than a year and was still in field training, according to the police.
An unidentified person who was shot was also pronounced dead at the scene, police said. An unidentified officer was struck and remains in serious but stable condition at the hospital, according to the police.
The remaining three civilians who were shot were also recuperating at the hospital, the police said.
No suspects have been named and there were no arrests as of Saturday evening, according to investigators.
The investigation into the shooting, which now includes assistance from the FBI, remains ongoing.
Gale River Indian Community Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis offered his condolences to the victims.
“I know I speak for our entire Community when I say that we grieve for our fallen and injured police officers and every Community member touched by such tragic violence. Nothing cuts deeper than a life cut short. We will pray for our officers and their families, and for every Community member, every loved one, and every family impacted by what happened this morning,” he said in a statement.
(IDAHO) — An Idaho jury sentenced Chad Daybell, the man who was convicted this week for the 2019 murders of his first wife and second wife’s two children, to death.
Daybell did not show any emotion when the judge read the jury’s verdict.
It took two days for the jury to come to their decision.
On Thursday, the jury found him guilty on all counts Thursday in what prosecutors said was a plot to pursue “money, power and sex.”
Daybell, 55, was charged with murder and conspiracy in the deaths of the two children, Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16, as well as his former wife of nearly 30 years, Tamara “Tammy” Daybell, 49, with whom he had five children. She died in their home on Oct. 19, 2019, with the cause of death determined to be asphyxiation, according to investigators.
Prosecutors said Daybell, the author of books about the apocalypse, promoted spiritual beliefs to justify the murders and had claimed that all three were possessed and “marked” them for death so that he and his new girlfriend Lori Vallow could be together “unencumbered by earthly relatives, earthly obstacles.”
Daybell and Vallow were married in Hawaii two weeks after the killings, according to prosecutors.
Daybell’s guilty verdict came more than a year after Vallow was also convicted of murdering her two youngest children. She was sentenced to life in prison.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
ABC News’ Meredith Deliso contributed to this report.
(NEW YORK) — NASA again delayed its first astronaut-crewed flight into space on Boeing’s Starliner, scrubbing Saturday afternoon’s launch just minutes before it was due to begin.
The space agency said “a hold was issued by the ground launch sequencer.”
The Starliner was set to launch from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida to take an approximately 24-hour journey to the International Space Station.
The spacecraft can carry seven people, but this test drive will only have two NASA astronauts: Barry Wilmore, 61, and Sunita Williams, 58.
Williams and Wilmore are expected to spend one week aboard the ISS and will be evaluating the spacecraft and its systems.
Upon re-entry, the Starliner will deploy parachutes and an airbag system, landing the astronauts in the western U.S.
If the mission is successful, NASA could certify the Starliner to perform routine missions to and from the ISS. NASA has primarily been using SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft to transport crew and cargo to the ISS.
The missions are part of NASA’s larger Commercial Crew Program, which uses American rockets and spacecraft to send astronauts and cargo to the ISS with the hope of helping NASA prepare for the upcoming missions to the moon and Mars.
Saturday was just the latest Starliner launch to get delayed.
The launch was tentatively scheduled for May 6, but was scrubbed after a problem with an oxygen valve on a rocket from United Launch Alliance, which manufactures and operates the rockets that launch spacecraft into orbit. A new date was set for May 25, but a small helium leak was discovered in the service module, which contains support systems and instruments for operating a spacecraft.
(CINCINNATI) — Joseph Van Niman was indicted on Friday after allegedly exchanging gunfire with police at a Kroger grocery store just outside of Cincinnati earlier in the week.
Hamilton County Prosecutor Melissa Powers announced 12 felony charges against Van Niman. If convicted, he faces a maximum possible sentence of 76 to 81.5 years in prison.
Authorities were dispatched to the Kroger on Springdale Road just before 4 p.m. ET Wednesday following a report of “shots fired,” according to the Colerain Police Department in Colerain Township, Ohio.
He was indicted for attempted murder and felonious assault, among other charges.
Officers observed “what they believed to be a narcotics transaction,” and began following Van Niman as he crossed the street to the Kroger parking lot, according to the indictment.
Upon verbal cues from officers, the indictment alleges Van Niman turned toward officers with a firearm “and took a shooting stance.”
Van Niman ran into the grocery store and allegedly began exchanging gunfire with the officers. While attempting to back deeper into the store, Van Niman was shot and “fell to the ground,” according to the indictment.
After various early and conflicting reports from police, law enforcement ultimately confirmed that one bystander had been injured in the gunfire exchange between the suspect and police, Colerain Township Police Chief Ed Cordie told reporters Wednesday night.
Officers rendered medical assistance to a bystander who was struck by shrapnel during the exchange of gunfire.
“To everyone who was present at the store that day, my heart breaks for you. No one should fear for their safety going out to buy groceries,” Powers said in the indictment.
The Kroger location was shutdown following the incident.
“We’re making sure everything is processed correctly before allowing people back in,” Colerain Police Department PIO Jim Love said Wednesday afternoon, adding, “The store’s cameras will be crucial for the investigation.”
Love noted that the Springfield Road Kroger location is one of the busiest in the township, saying, “To have shots fired in the middle of the day here is a big deal.”
“This defendant tried to take an officer’s life; we’re going to make sure his life ends in a prison cell,” the indictment read.
(NEW YORK) — As an Idaho jury weighs whether doomsday author Chad Daybell should get the death penalty after being convicted in the murders of his first wife and his second wife’s two children, family members of the three victims gave emotional statements to the court on Friday.
The jury found him guilty on all counts in what prosecutors said was a plot to pursue “money, power and sex.”
Thursday’s verdict in the capital murder trial comes more than a year after Daybell’s second wife, Lori Vallow, was also convicted of murdering her two youngest children — Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16. Their remains were found on a property in Idaho belonging to Daybell in June 2020 after the children had been missing for several months.
Daybell, 55, was charged with murder and conspiracy in the deaths of the two children as well as his former wife of nearly 30 years, Tamara “Tammy” Daybell, 49, with whom he had five children. She died in their home on Oct. 19, 2019, with the cause of death asphyxiation, prosecutors revealed during Vallow’s trial. Daybell and Vallow were married in Hawaii two weeks later.
Prosecutors said Daybell, the author of books about the apocalypse, promoted spiritual beliefs to justify the murders and had claimed that all three were possessed and “marked” them for death so that he and Vallow could be together “unencumbered by earthly relatives, earthly obstacles.”
Daybell was also found guilty of two counts of insurance fraud related to $430,000 in life insurance policies he had on Tamara Daybell for which he was the beneficiary, prosecutors said.
During victim impact statements delivered ahead of the jury deliberations on the sentencing, several family members recalled their grief over Tamara Daybell’s sudden death on Oct. 19, 2019, and the ensuing anguish and anger to learn that, following an exhumation to conduct an autopsy, she was murdered.
“My sister should not be dead right now,” Samantha Gwilliam told the court. “She should be here alive, smiling, with her family and friends. She should be doting on her grandchildren and taking care of her animals.”
“It is a cruel world that has taken her from us. We need to feel some peace for the first time in five years,” she continued. “I miss my sister every day. I will grieve for her for the rest of my life. I speak up for her now because she needs a voice.”
Their brother, Matthew Douglas, said Tamara Daybell was the “emotional heart and glue of our siblings’ group.”
“I still can’t wrap my head and heart around the chain of events,” he said, saying this has been a “nightmare that you feel never ends.”
Ben Douglas said the pain of losing their sister was “immeasurable” and has been compounded by also impacting their relationship with her children — a sentiment echoed by his family.
“The tragedy of the case has harmed our family’s relationship with the kids,” her father, Ron Douglas, told the court. “I will remain open to rebuilding a relationship with them. It makes me angry, and it destroys me to know Tammy was treated how she was.”
The eldest sibling, Michael Douglas, told the court that he did not sleep for six weeks after learning the results of the autopsy, and that his peace has been “stolen.”
“I now have an angry part that has become, hopefully, not a permanent part of me,” he said.
Her siblings expressed their shock and horror at learning that two children were also killed.
“I retched and sobbed over learning about JJ and Tylee,” Gwilliam said through tears.
Ryan was a child from Vallow’s third marriage while JJ was the nephew of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, whom they adopted.
Kay Woodcock, JJ’s grandmother, described her “immense pain” over the boy’s death, which she called a “betrayal that can’t be explained.”
“There’s a hole in my heart, in the hearts of every member of my family, that can never be filled and will remain for the rest of my life,” she said, crying.
She said JJ was incredibly smart and compassionate and cried over the fact that she could not create more memories with him.
“The constant question remains — who would he have become?” she said. “Would he be a famous scientist with incredible math skills? What would his amazing imagination have bloomed into? Would have been the next Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs, Tim Burton, Elon Musk? We will never know. But we do know how incredibly special he was to us.”
Ryan’s aunt, Annie Cushing, said she and her niece bonded over their love of pop culture and she had planned to bring the teen to New York City for her 18th birthday.
“Tylee had her whole life ahead of her. She had dignity, she had dreams, she had goals,” Cushing said. “The defendant stole that.”
The children’s brother, Colby Ryan — Vallow’s eldest child — expressed his grief at not seeing his siblings grow up.
“It’s very hard for me to put into words what it means to have lost my entire family,” he told the court. “In short, I’ve lost everything I’ve ever known.”
He said his three children will never know Ryan’s kind heart or JJ’s “silly, goofy personality.”
“But more importantly, Tylee and JJ lost their lives,” he continued.
The jury began deliberations Friday afternoon in the sentencing on whether the circumstances of the case warrant the death penalty, being sought by the state for what they called the “heinous” manner of the deaths.
“The defendant exhibited utter disregard for human life. Tylee was only 16 years old. JJ was only seven years old. Tammy — a 49-year-old mother of five, the mother of the defendant’s kids,” prosecutor Lindsey Blake told the jurors Friday prior to the sentencing deliberations. “It didn’t matter the age of the victim or who relied on them and loved them. If they were in the way of Chad and his plan and/or if there was money to be gained for Lori and Chad, those individuals were marked for death.”
Defense attorney John Prior meanwhile painted Daybell as a quiet, small-town man committed to faith and family before blaming Vallow as a “bomb” dropped in his life, causing chaos.
“She was the trajectory that changed the plan,” he told the court Friday. “You don’t go back on 29 years of marriage with nothing as far as a speeding ticket, raising five wonderful children.”
Daybell did not address the court during the sentencing phase of the trial. He also did not take the stand to testify in his own defense prior to the verdict.
Vallow was sentenced to life in prison without parole in July 2023 for the murders of her two children and for conspiring to kill them and Tamara Daybell. The judge had granted the defense’s motion to dismiss the death penalty in her case.
She also faces charges over the death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, who was shot and killed by her brother in 2019.
Since the death penalty was established in Idaho in 1864, the state has carried out 29 executions, most recently in 2012, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.
There are currently eight residents on death row in Idaho, according to the state Department of Corrections.
(LAKELAND, Fla.) — Police officials in Lakeland, Florida are reviewing an incident in which officers punched and tased a teenager after he allegedly trespassed at an apartment complex pool and refused to leave when police ordered him to do so.
Lakeland police charged the 16-year-old boy with misdemeanor trespassing and two felony counts of battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer with violence, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by ABC News.
Christopher McKee, one of the two arresting officers in the May 26 incident, stated in a police report that he was responding to a 911 call from the apartment complex management complaining that several people were at the apartment pool who weren’t allowed to be there because they weren’t tenants. Once officers arrived, the apartment complex manager notified them that all non-residents of the complex were trespassing.
ABC News is not naming the teen because he is a minor.
“I gave [the subject] several more lawful orders to exit the property or he would be arrested,” McKee stated in the affidavit. “[The subject] continued to ignore my verbal commands and stuck his hand in my face, while stating ‘I don’t have to talk to you.’ I decided at this time to take [the subject] into custody for trespassing.”
The officer claims in the report that after making physical contact with the teen to bring him into custody, the teen struck the officer in the face with a closed fist. In cell phone video of the incident obtained by ABC News, two officers can be seen punching, pulling the hair of and tasing the teen before he submits to being handcuffed. The video does not show what led up to the incident.
Ja’Tae Lewis, the boy’s mother, told ABC News that her son and his friends were leaving the property, as requested by police. At that point, one of the officers followed behind them and told her son that the next time he came to the complex he should take his “fat a–” to the gym to work out, rather than the pool.
Lewis said that her son told her that he replied to the officer but allegedly doesn’t remember what he said. The officer then approached her son, according to Lewis, who in turn raised his hand up toward the officer’s face to establish distance. That is when the officer became physical with her son, according to Lewis.
Lakeland police told ABC News that body camera video of the incident is not available to the public at this time. The teen was transported to a local hospital and then to a juvenile assessment center, according to the arrest affidavit.
“Chief of Police Sam Taylor has already requested an administrative review by our Office of Professional Standards,” Lakeland police told ABC News through a statement. “We will not be able to release any other material related to this case until the administrative review is closed.”
(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 31, 1:42 PM Biden calls Trump’s remarks ‘dangerous’
In an address from the White House, President Joe Biden said Donald Trump’s criticism of the judicial system in the wake of his criminal conviction yesterday is “reckless” and “dangerous.”
“The jury reached an unanimous verdict that found him guilty on all 34 felony counties. Now he’ll be given the opportunity, as he should, to appeal that decision, just like everyone else has that opportunity,” Biden said. “That’s how the American system of justice works, and it’s reckless, it’s dangerous, it’s irresponsible for anyone to say it was rigged just because they don’t like the verdict.”
“Our justice system has endured for nearly 250 years, and it really is the cornerstone of America,” said Biden, who made the remarks at the beginning of an address on the status of the Israel-Hamas conflict. “Our justice system and justices should be respected. We should never allow anyone to tear it down. That’s America. That’s who we are, that’s who will always be, God willing.”
“The American principle that no one is above the law was reaffirmed,” he said of the case.
May 31, 11:47 AM Trump calls judge ‘tyrant,’ slams Cohen without naming him
Former President Trump, speaking from Trump Tower the morning after his historic felony conviction, slammed witness Michael Cohen while calling the judge in the case a “tyrant.”
“We’re going to be appealing in many different things. He wouldn’t allow us to have witnesses, he wouldn’t allow us to talk, he wouldn’t allow us to do anything,” Trump said of Judge Juan Merchan. “The judge was a tyrant.”
Of Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen, who testified for the prosecution, Trump said, “This was [once] a highly qualified lawyer. I’m not allowed to use his name because of the gag order. He is a sleaze. Everybody knows that. Took me a while to found out.”
Trump, who still remains to be sentenced on July 11, remains under the limited gag order that prohibits him from attacking witnesses in the case as well as jurors and attorneys other than Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg.
“This should have been a non-case. Everybody said it was a non-case,” Trump said.
May 31, 11:30 AM Trump attacks judge a day after his conviction
Donald Trump, speaking from Trump Tower, lodged a litany of complaints about his conviction yesterday on criminal charges, attacking the judge in the case, the DA who brought it, his former attorney who testified against him, and the charges themselves.
“We had a conflicted judge, highly conflicted. There’s never been a more conflicted judge,” he said of Judge Juan Merchan.
“You saw what happened to some of the witnesses that were on our side,” Trump said. “They were literally crucified by this man who looks like an angel, but he’s really a devil. He looks so nice and soft. People say, ‘Oh he seems like such nice man’ — unless you saw him in action.”
“It’s a rigged — it was a rigged trial,” Trump said, repeating his oft-stated baseless claim.
May 31, 10:42 AM Trump to hold press conference at Trump Tower
The morning after his historic felony conviction, former President Trump is set to address reporters at an 11 a.m. ET press conference.
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 is expected to address to his conviction and the legal battle he faces amid his third presidential bid.
Campaign officials and some supporters are also expected to be present.
May 30, 8:42 PM NYC mayor says city won’t tolerate ‘lawlessness’ following verdict
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said the New York Police Department will protect peaceful protest in the wake of Trump’s conviction — but not “lawlessness.”
“Today, a jury of 12 New Yorkers registered their verdict,” Adams’ statement read. “Our criminal justice process must be respected. As we await the next steps, New Yorkers should rest assured that the NYPD stands ready to respond to any and all circumstances, including large-scale protests. While peaceful protests and assembly will always be protected, we will not be a city of any form of lawlessness.”
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.
(STAMFORD, Conn.) — Children of missing Connecticut mom Jennifer Dulos spoke out Friday in emotional victim impact statements at the sentencing hearing of Michelle Troconis, who was convicted of helping her boyfriend, Jennifer Dulos’ estranged husband, cover up Jennifer Dulos’ murder.
Petros Dulos, who was 13 when his mother died in May 2019, said in court, “I’ve been left with a hole inside of me I know I will never be able to fill.”
“My mother was everything to me. But during the divorce, I became very bitter with everyone around me, especially mom, because she was always trying to help me,” he said. “This meant that I hurt the person closest to me because I didn’t know how else to voice my pain. The defendant’s actions mean I will never be able to tell my mom how sorry I am for not being a better son when she needed me. I will never be able to tell mom how proud of her courage I am. Most importantly, how much I love her. This fact haunts me every day.”
Petros Dulos said Troconis, a mother herself, “has desecrated” the meaning of the word mother.
The case began on May 24, 2019, when Jennifer Dulos, a Connecticut mother of five, disappeared amid a contentious custody dispute with her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos.
Prosecutors alleged Fotis Dulos killed his estranged wife in her garage, and Troconis, his live-in girlfriend, helped him cover up evidence.
On March 1, Troconis was found guilty of all counts against her: conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with physical evidence, conspiracy to commit tampering with physical evidence and hindering prosecution. On Friday, Judge Kevin Randolph threw out one of the counts of conspiracy to commit evidence tampering. The prosecution asked for 45 years in prison.
At trial, police testified that surveillance footage showed Fotis Dulos driving, with Troconis in the passenger seat, in Hartford later on the day Jennifer Dulos vanished, with Fotis Dulos making stops to throw out alleged evidence in trash cans, the Hartford Courant reported. In court, jurors were shown zip ties, gloves and stained clothing prosecutors said were pulled from the trash cans.
Prosecutors said Troconis also helped her boyfriend with an alibi and helped him clean a truck believed to have been used in the crime, according to The Stamford Advocate.
Troconis maintained her innocence, with the defense arguing Troconis never denied being in the car with her boyfriend, but she did deny having any involvement in or any knowledge of crimes Fotis Dulos may have committed.
Fotis Dulos died by suicide in January 2020, weeks after he was charged in Jennifer Dulos’ murder.
Christiane Dulos, who was 10 when her mother died, said in court that after her parents separated, she asked her dad about cheating on her mother. She said Fotis Dulos responded, “When you really love somebody, sometimes you can’t wait.”
“This affair was why my mom took us and left, why she cried at night and why we were no longer a family,” she said. “From then on, Michelle was a part of my life with my dad. Later on, my dad told us that Michelle was not allowed to be around us anymore, and that if we wanted to keep seeing her, we could not tell mom that Michelle was at our visits.”
Overcome with emotion, Christiane Dulos said, “Michelle Troconis, to me, is the reason I feel completely lost and alone on nights when I cannot sleep. She’s the reason why I blocked out my childhood and that day so much I can barely remember it. She’s the reason kids at school look at me with pity, the reason my teachers say ‘guardians’ and not ‘parents.'”
“The reason I’ve had to sit on the bathroom floor with my little sister and try my best to comfort her. She’s the reason I had to visit my dad at the hospital knowing what he did and knowing he chose to leave us,” she said. “She’s the reason I no longer feel I have a real beginning, a home to always come back to, parents I will always belong to.”
Christiane Dulos said she can only feel her mom’s presence through memories, her mom’s writings and stories from her grandmother and Jennifer Dulos’ friends.
“I hold onto these moments of her life knowing it should be her telling me these stories,” she said.
Theodore Dulos, who was 13 at the time of his mother’s death, said in court Friday, “My life now is nothing like it used to be. I no longer have my mother, my hero. I’ll never talk to her again. I’ll never do my homework with her again. I’ll never ask her for advice again.”
“Michelle, you caused this damage,” he said. “You not only knew about, but conspired, to murder a daughter, sister, friend and mother of five kids. That day you took away five children’s source of comfort, our protector. You showed no remorse and you’ve yet to show any.”
Jennifer Dulos’ body has never been found but a judge has declared her legally dead.
Theodore Dulos asked Troconis to reveal what happened the day Jennifer Dulos vanished and the location of Jennifer Dulos’ body.
“I’ll never forgive you … and until you give us more answers, you’ll be considered evil, violent and most definitely a coward,” he said.
The children’s nanny, Lauren Almeida, said after Jennifer Dulos’ disappearance, she put her own goals on hold and left her career, family, friends and relationship in Connecticut to help care for the kids.
“My relationship ended, I lost the place I called home, I’ve lost friends and time with my family. I had to rethink what my life would be like now that I had five kids to help look after,” she said in court.
“These kids have become my whole world and they’ve taught me what unconditional love is,” she said, overcome with emotion.
Almeida said Troconis “took away the most genuine, thoughtful, funny and kind person I have ever met. She took away a mother who sang silly songs to her kids, who was always there when they fell to lift them back up.”
She said the kids’ feeling of safety and security is gone.
Almeida speculated about Troconis’ motive.
“To take Jennifer’s place? Because you could never,” she said. “To live this lavish lifestyle Fotis promised? We’ll never know, because I believe Michelle will never be honest.”
“We don’t even have the comfort of knowing where [Jennifer Dulos] is,” Almeida said. “Where is she, Michelle?”
Noelle Dulos, who was 8 when her mother died, said she’s now constantly terrified something bad will happen to her loved ones.
“I feel betrayed by Michelle,” she said. “I remember trusting her. I don’t understand how she could be so selfish and it scares me to put my trust in other people.”
Jennifer Dulos “only wanted to give and to get love, and to be a loving mother,” her mother, Gloria Farber, said at the sentencing hearing. “She lived in fear of her life. In fear that her husband might abduct her children.”
“Every year we honor Jennifer on her birthday — Sept. 27, 1968,” her mother said in court Friday. “On that day in September, her children, her sister, her friends and I cross the street from my apartment and we walk to Central Park carrying purple balloons — Jennifer’s favorite color. We sit on benches, and, using markers, we write messages to her. Then we let the balloons go.”
“Jennifer filled her children with love, wisdom and humor,” she said. “Jennifer would have been very proud of her children’s accomplishments. They will always have their memories of her, as do I.”
Petros Dulos added in court Friday, “I’m upset that I will never know the man I could have become if my mom was still here to guide me. She was my hero. And now I often feel lost without her comforting smile and her meaningful discussions.”
“I wish she could see me mature from a boy to a young man. I wish I could hug mom again,” he said. “But I can’t now.”
Troconis’ father addressed the court Friday, describing her as a compassionate woman who was devoted to her daughter.
Dr. Carlos Troconis asked the judge for mercy, saying “she could continue to be a valuable member of society, providing care and restorative therapy to children and adults.”
Michelle Troconis’ mother, Marisela Arreaza, wept, saying her daughter misplaced trust in her boyfriend.
Troconis’ sister, Daniela Troconis, said her sister was her biggest supporter.
Troconis has an “unwavering dedication to helping those in need,” and even over the last five years “remains there for me,” she said.
Through tears, Daniela Troconis said to the judge, “I am begging you to consider Michelle’s many positive contributions to the community,”
Troconis’ pastor, the Rev. Christopher Solomini, spoke in court on her behalf, saying Troconis was a church volunteer who he would trust with his life.
“Empathy and compassion are at the center of her being, in my estimation,” he said.
“Michelle was always especially affirming and loving to young children, and genuinely affectionate to all,” he said.
“I’ve heard her prayers for Jennifer and her children,” he added.
Fotis Dulos’ friend and former lawyer, Kent Mawhinney, is also accused of helping cover up the crime. He pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and is awaiting trial.
(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.
