Trump: The first former US president to be criminally convicted

Trump described the ruling as a “disgrace” and that this was a “rigged trial,” stressing his innocence of the charges against him, and that he “will continue to fight until the end.”

After leaving the courtroom, he added that “the matter is not over yet,” and that the “real verdict” will be issued by voters on November 5, in reference to the upcoming presidential elections.

The White House commented on Trump’s conviction, saying, “We respect the rule of law,” and US President Joe Biden’s election campaign said that the ruling is proof that “no one is above the law.”

A statement issued by the Biden campaign team confirmed that Donald Trump, as a potential presidential candidate for the Republican Party, still poses a major threat to democracy, accusing him of running what it called an unbalanced campaign of revenge and retaliation.

Biden campaign official Michael Tyler said in a statement that despite this conviction, “there is only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office, and that is the ballot,” adding that “whether he is convicted or not, Trump will be the nominee.” “Republican.”

Trump’s former personal lawyer Michael Cohen, whose evidence played a key role in the conviction, also welcomed the ruling, saying on X that it is an important day for accountability and the rule of law.

Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, commented that it was a “shameful day for America,” adding that Trump would appeal the ruling.

Hardline Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeted a photo of an upside-down American flag, a symbol used to indicate that a country is in distress, and which has recently been embraced by some Trump supporters who say the 2020 presidential election was rigged.

The BBC spoke to a number of US citizens to find out what they think about Donald Trump’s sentence.

In New York outside the Manhattan courthouse, Mary Jane Desaples expressed her astonishment, saying, “I didn’t think this would actually happen,” adding that “it’s time to hold him accountable for something.”

While William Parker expressed his objection, saying, “I do not know all the details about his case, but I truly believe that he did not do it.”

Richie Frank expressed his confidence that the truth will inevitably become clear, whether Trump is thrown in prison or not, saying, “No matter what, we will all vote for Trump,” wondering in denunciation: “How will this change my opinion?!”

While another described himself as a native New Yorker, and called what happened a “shameful thing,” saying that Trump is a native New Yorker, and “he does not hate this city, and he does not hate this country.”

He added that Trump is “innocent” and that what happened to him is “unjust,” stressing that although he did not vote for Trump the first time, he will do so this time.

As for Georgia, Dante Sellers described Trump’s conviction as historic, saying, “Frankly, it is shocking for a president to be convicted,” stressing that this will not change anything for him, as he will vote for Trump anyway.

However, he believes the event could settle the issue with voters who are not affiliated with either party, saying: “There will be those who look at the ballot and say, ‘Can I vote for a convicted felon?!’”

Makita Eaton agrees with Sellers’ position, as she believes that “those who support Trump will continue to support him regardless of this,” referring to the sentence issued against the former US president.

Georgia is one of the swing states. Polls indicate that there are up to 18% of voters who do not lean toward Democrats or Republicans, and blacks constitute a third of the state’s population, whom both Biden and Trump seek to attract in the election campaign.

Maketa expressed her annoyance at this point specifically, saying: “It is sad that black issues are only important at election time, not all the time.”

As for Rachel Rice, who describes herself as an independent voter despite her vote for Trump in the 2020 elections, she expressed her astonishment, believing that Trump “will want to win now.”

Rice, a US Army veteran, said: “I have a feeling that this trial was political, and I am not confident in the credibility of Michael Cohen. I think it seems unfair.”

It is worth noting that in the 2020 elections, President Joe Biden won the southern state by a narrow margin, which is the first time that a Democratic presidential candidate has won since 1982, but Donald Trump has his sights set on winning it in the upcoming November elections.

The prosecutor in the criminal trial of former US President Donald Trump welcomed the guilty verdict, saying that “the jury had its say” when it ruled that Trump was guilty of the 34 charges against him, “following the facts and the law without fear or favor.”

Alvin Bragg said during a press conference, “The only voice that matters is the jury’s voice, and the jury had its say,” noting that the 12 members of the jury unanimously issued their decision to convict Trump “of 34 charges related to aggravated accounting fraud to conceal a conspiracy aimed at corrupting the 2016 elections.”

Trump has pleaded not guilty in all cases, and has portrayed his various legal troubles as an attempt by Biden’s Democratic allies to hurt him politically.

Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche had asked Judge Merchan to reject the guilty verdict, arguing that it was based on unreliable testimony by Cohen, but Merchan rejected his request.

In any case, Trump has one month to notify the judiciary of his intention to appeal the ruling, and then several months to do so officially.

After the guilty verdict was issued, Blanche announced that the defense team would appeal the ruling “as soon as possible.”

Trump’s appeal will likely focus on porn star Daniels’ testimony about their alleged sexual encounter, as well as the new legal theory used by the prosecutors in the case, but legal experts said his chances are slim.

Forgery of business documents is usually a misdemeanor in New York, but Manhattan prosecutors raised the matter to a felony, on the grounds that Trump was concealing something illegal during the election campaign.

Trump theoretically faces prison time, as the law in New York State punishes falsifying accounting documents with a maximum of four years in prison.

However, this sentence can be reduced unless the convict has a criminal record, in addition to his age, which at the time of pronouncing the sentence and determining the sentence will be 78 years.

Given the convict’s record, the judge can impose a suspended sentence, or community service work, in addition to a fine.

Gary O’Donoghue, BBC’s chief correspondent in North America, says this result is “devastating” for the former president, as there are voters in swing states who will not accept supporting a candidate with a criminal record.

In turn, the outcome of the trial will further anger his supporters and help raise money not only to pay his mounting legal fees, but also for his presidential campaign.

Anthony Zurcher, also a BBC North America correspondent, says this ruling raises questions about how it will impact this year’s presidential campaign.

Some polls earlier this year suggested that Republican voters might turn against the former president if he is found guilty, but given how strong Trump’s support has been over the past eight years, the reaction to the convictions may not accurately reflect reality.

However, if this race ends as close as expected, the slight drop in support could tip the race in favor of Democrats, Zurcher said, saying a guilty verdict could remind some Americans of what they didn’t like about the former president.

But we’re still in May, and there’s still a long way to go in this presidential race. By November, voters may focus on traditional concerns such as the economy, immigration and abortion.

Ultimately, it will be the judgment of American voters that decides what history writes about Donald Trump’s conviction.