Trump guilty on all counts in hush money case
A New York jury found the former president guilty of a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election


What happened
A New York jury on Thursday evening found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election by secretly paying off a porn actress to hide a politically damaging sex scandal. Trump is the first U.S. president convicted of a felony.
Who said what
Exiting the courtroom, Trump called the verdict a "disgrace" and himself a "very innocent man," adding, "the real verdict is going to be Nov. 5, by the people." In fundraising solicitations, Trump's campaign called him a "political prisoner" and said "JUSTICE IS DEAD IN AMERICA!"
"The only voice that matters is the voice of the jury, and the jury has spoken," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said.
Trump's conviction "ushers in a new era of presidential politics," The New York Times said. He will "carry the stain of the verdict during his third run for the White House as voters now choose between an unpopular incumbent and a convicted criminal."
What next?
Judge Juan Merchan will sentence Trump on July 11, four days before the Republican National Convention. Until then, "Trump will have the same experience as anyone else convicted of a felony" in New York, the Times said, including an interview with the city probation department before it recommends a sentence ranging from community service to 4 years in jail. Trump's lawyers plan to appeal.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Today's political cartoons - March 24, 2025
Cartoons Monday's cartoons - American education, Canadian election, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The student loans fraud scandal
The Explainer Huge amounts of money may have been fraudulently claimed from the Student Loans Company
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Is this the end of democracy in Turkey?
Today's Big Question President Erdoğan's jailing of political rival a 'decisive moment' that moves country toward full-fledged autocracy
By Elliott Goat, The Week UK Published
-
Trump signs order to end Education Department
Speed Read The move will return education 'back to the states where it belongs,' the president says
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How are attorneys dealing with Trump's attacks on law firms?
Today's Big Question Trump has sanctioned the law firm that investigated his dealings with Stormy Daniels, among others
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Trump pauses $175M for Penn over trans athlete
Speed Read The president is withholding federal funds from the University of Pennsylvania because it once allowed a transgender swimmer to compete
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Did Vladimir Putin just play Donald Trump?
Today's Big Question The Russian president rejected a full ceasefire after long conversation with his US counterpart
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Musk: Is Trump putting him on a leash?
Feature Elon Musk’s aggressive government cuts are facing backlash from Trump’s Cabinet
By The Week US Published
-
SCOTUS: A glimmer of independence?
Feature The Supreme Court rejects Trump’s request to freeze nearly $2 billion in foreign aid payments
By The Week US Published
-
Tesla Takedown protest movement grows as Trump threatens criminal charges
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Nationwide demonstrations at Elon Musk's car dealerships have earned the attention — and ire — of the White House
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'This recommendation is reasonable and in line with the evolution of medical consensus'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published