For six weeks, the former most powerful man in the world sat like an ordinary citizen in a drab courtroom, a criminal defendant being judged by a jury of his peers.
In proceedings both historic and tawdry, Donald Trump glowered, complained, bloviated, and snoozed through a trial to determine whether he falsified business records to cover up hush money paid to a porn star on the eve of the 2016 election. On May 30, the 12 jurors delivered their verdict: guilty on all 34 counts. To all his norm-shattering iterations-flashy businessman, name-brand showman, novice President-Trump has added a new title: felon.
The trial that led to the first-ever criminal conviction of a former U.S. President was often marked by its unseemliness. Witnesses recounted spankings, clandestine meetings, and payoffs, all intended to establish that Trump had conspired to hide information about his behavior that could have affected voters' choices. Now Trump once again threatens to upend the precepts of the U.S. political system and test the foundations of the country's rule of law. Trump has already vowed to appeal, a process that could take months or longer. As he runs against President Joe Biden this fall, voters will have to grapple with questions both political and constitutional.
Trump arrives at Trump Tower in New York City the day after the verdict
For now, the system has held: this was an orderly trial with a careful judge and a jury that rendered a verdict without falling prey to intimidation from a famous defendant who repeatedly violated his gag order. "It really is a demonstration of an evolved system of justice that applies to all people," says Harry Litman, a former U.S. attorney.
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