Former President Donald Trump was found guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a New York courtroom on Thursday afternoon, becoming the first former president to ever be convicted of a crime. Despite the verdict, Trump immediately claimed it was all a setup orchestrated by the Biden administration to undermine him as a political opponent.
The trial, brought by District Attorney Alvin Bragg, was unrelated to President Biden or his administration, but Trump and his allies wasted no time in trying to weaponize the conviction to sow doubt in the justice system and the upcoming 2024 election.
Trump was convicted of falsifying business records to cover up a sex scandal during his 2016 presidential campaign, with prosecutors alleging it was an unlawful effort to influence the election. Trump has consistently referred to the trial as the “Biden trial” and “election interference,” using it to further his narrative of being a victim of a witch hunt.
Following the verdict, Trump’s allies, including Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake and Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, echoed his claims of political persecution and election interference. Trump’s statement after the verdict indicated his intention to erode faith in the justice system that convicted him, raising concerns about the future of American democracy.
Despite calls for respecting the legal process, even from fellow Republicans like former Gov. Larry Hogan, Trump’s team has made it clear that any deviation from the party line of grievance and revenge will not be tolerated. The intense atmosphere inside the courtroom as the verdict was announced was described as a moment where time seemed to stop.
As Trump faces sentencing on July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention where he is expected to accept the nomination for president, the extraordinary twist in his campaign continues to unfold. The conviction marks a significant moment in American political history, with implications for the future of democracy and public trust in the justice system.
