Former President Donald Trump, the Republican Party’s presumptive nominee in the 2024 presidential race, has been found guilty on 34 charges of falsifying business records. This marks the first time in American history that a former president has been convicted of a felony.
The charges against Trump stem from his alleged falsification of the repayment of his former lawyer Michael Cohen, in an attempt to cover up a $130,000 payment Cohen made to adult film star Stormy Daniels. The payment was reportedly made to keep her from speaking out about an alleged affair with Trump before the 2016 election, an affair that Trump has denied.
Despite these charges, Trump is still facing three other criminal cases. In August, an Atlanta-based grand jury indicted Trump on state charges related to his attempts to overturn his 2020 electoral defeat in Georgia. The indictment, which spanned 98 pages, named Trump and 18 co-defendants.
In addition, Trump was indicted by a federal grand jury in special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election leading up to the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. And in June 2023, a federal grand jury in Florida charged Trump in Smith’s classified documents probe. Trump has pleaded not guilty in all of these cases.
Throughout these legal battles, Trump has maintained his innocence and has accused Democrats of politically targeting him. He is now the first current or former US president to face criminal charges.
Trump, who served as the nation’s 45th president from 2017-2021, rose to fame through his real estate ventures and television career. Despite having no prior political experience, he secured the Republican nomination and ultimately defeated Hillary Clinton in a surprising victory in the 2016 election.
However, Trump’s presidency was marred by controversy, and he became the first US president to be impeached twice. He was ultimately acquitted on both occasions. His legal troubles now represent a new chapter in his turbulent political career.
