Trump's criminal records

He becomes the first US president in history to be criminally convicted

- CHRISTOPHER BUCKTIN

DONALD Trump, the favourite to take the White House in November's presidential election, last night became a convicted felon.

In what could be the most consequential verdict in American criminal history, the 77-year-old was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying his business records.

At the heart of the case was the tycoon's alleged one-night stand with porn star Stormy Daniels.

It means he now faces the possible prospect of running for office from behind bars.

Cheers erupted outside a New York court after the verdicts of the jury of seven men and five women were released.

Leaving court, Trump said: "This was a disgrace, this was a rigged trial... this is far from over, and claimed it was a stunt by Joe Biden's administration.

Trump was accused of covering up a hush money payment scheme to silence Daniels ahead of his 2016 election campaign.

He could face up to four years in prison, although some argue this is unlikely.

But it would not prevent the businessman from running for office.

The Founding Fathers set only three eligibility requirements. Under the US Constitution, a president must be a natural-born citizen of the United States, at least 35 years old and have resided in the US for at least 14 years.

Nowhere does it say that a convicted criminal cannot run for or become president. 
Trump had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Sources had told how, inside the New York courthouse, he had become increasingly jittery because, for the first time in his life, he had no control over his fate.

A court source said: "Trump is all about control. Nothing in his life is left to chance, nor is it left in someone else's hands.