Manhattan Jury Convicts Donald J. Trump on 34 Counts of Falsifying Business Records
MANHATTAN, NY – Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. today announced the conviction of Donald J. Trump, 77, on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal actions aimed at impacting the 2016 election. The New York State Supreme Court jury delivered a guilty verdict following evidence that Trump manipulated business records of his Manhattan-based company.
Shortly after the conviction, Bragg released a long-winded press release that declared the verdict a win for justice.
The District Attorney described the evidence presented to the jury, including invoices, checks, bank statements, audio recordings, and direct witness testimony, which confirmed Trump’s illegal actions. Bragg emphasized Manhattan’s commitment to impartial justice, noting that the case’s integrity shows the legal system’s dedication to equality and fairness.
The prosecution detailed how the scheme began with a 2015 meeting at Trump Tower, involving Trump, his former attorney Michael Cohen, and David Pecker, CEO of American Media Inc. (AMI). They planned to suppress damaging information through AMI’s purchase of stories, which were then withheld from the public.
This suppression strategy was highlighted by payments made to silence individuals with potentially harmful stories about Trump. One notable payment was $130,000 to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels, to prevent disclosures about her alleged sexual encounter with Trump before the election.
Post-election, Trump reimbursed Cohen through his company and personal accounts, masking the payments as legal fees, further falsifying business records. This included 11 checks that obscured the original payment’s purpose, resulting in a total of 34 false entries in business records to conceal their actions.
Assistant D.A.s Matthew Colangelo, Christopher Conroy, Katherine Ellis, Susan Hoffinger, Becky Mangold, and Joshua Steinglass led the prosecution, with support from various legal and paralegal staff. The NYPD and the Office of Court Administration were thanked for ensuring a safe trial environment. Trump is scheduled for sentencing on July 11