May 30, 2024 is a day that will live in infamy! Donald Trump became the first former President of the United States to be brought to court on felony charges and have a jury reach a verdict of guilty. Not to mention that this happened while he is currently running for President again and is the highest polling candidate.
The ripple effects of this historical day will be felt indefinitely. The debates will rage over whether or not this was justice or merely political lawfare.
In part 5, we cover the instructions from Judge Merchan to the jury for how to deliberate. Most of the instructions were standard fare. However, the section detailing the charges raised serious questions in my mind.
The charges were 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree to conceal the crime of conspiracy to promote an election by unlawful means. Each juror could determine anonymously if the "unlawful means" was one or more of the following:
- FECA violation (campaign contributions above the federal limit)
- falsifying other business records
- tax violations (by paying Cohen extra money to cover income taxes)
Falsifying business records alone is a misdemeanor.
Conspiracy to promote an election by unlawful means is a misdemeanor.
The maximum sentence for all 34 charges is 136 years in prison because Trump allegedly paid for an alleged crime in 11 installments.
The jury found Trump guilty of all 34 felony counts. A lot has happened since then. Sentencing has moved to September 18th.
Sources Cited:
Jury instructions from Judge Merchan
NY Elec L § 17-152 (2021)
Michael R. Sisak, Jennifer Peltz, Eric Tucker, and Michelle L. Price, "Jurors in Trump hush money trial end 1st day of deliberations after asking to rehear testimony," Associated Press, Updated May 29, 2024.
"D.A. Bragg Announces 34-Count Felony Trial Conviction of Donald J. Trump," ManhattanDA.org, May 30, 2024.
"Public Statement on the Hunter Biden Emails," Politico, October 19, 2020.
Touré, "It makes me so happy to write 'convicted felon Donald Trump'," The Grio, May 31, 2024.
Ximena Bustillo, "Trump loses bid to lift New York gag order in response to Harris' campaigning," NPR, August 2, 2024.
Scriptures Referenced:
Proverbs 25:2
Leviticus 19:15-18
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