Donald Trump found guilty on all charges in hush money trial case on Thursday. In their opening statement at Donald Trump's criminal trial, the prosecutors seeking to win the first-ever criminal conviction of a sitting or former U.S.
president made a bold prediction: they would have hard evidence to back up testimony from Michael Cohen, the star witness branded a liar by the defense. Over the next several weeks, jurors heard testimony from insiders at Trump's real estate company, his 2016 presidential campaign, and his White House that methodically backed up the two core elements of Manhattan District Alvin Bragg's case: that Trump was aware of a "catch-and-kill" conspiracy to buy the silence of people with negative information before the election, and that he was involved in a cover-up of Cohen's hush money payment to a porn star. That testimony - coupled with evidence such as bank records, emails and a surreptitious recording of Trump speaking about a hush money payment - culminated in the 12-member jury finding Trump guilty of criminal charges.
Its verdict: He illegally falsified business records to hide his reimbursement to Cohen for the $130,000 Cohen paid to buy the silence of porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election about an alleged sexual encounter she had with Trump in 2006. To be sure, jury deliberations are secret and the reasoning behind the decision to convict will not be clear unless any jurors decide to speak publicly. Trump is almost certain to appeal.