A New York jury found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, marking the first time a former U.S. President has been convicted of a crime, according to NBC News.
The verdict was announced in a Manhattan courtroom, where Trump had been on trial since April 15.
Trump had pleaded not guilty to all 34 charges, which were connected to a hush money payment his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, made to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the final weeks of the 2016 presidential campaign.
NBC News reported that Trump looked down with narrowed eyes as the jury foreperson read “guilty” for each count. The jury deliberated for 9.5 hours starting Wednesday before reaching their verdict.
Trump is the first former president in U.S. history to be convicted of criminal charges and is scheduled to be sentenced in July.
This historic conviction came as Trump was seen as the leading Republican candidate for president. The judge thanked the jurors for their dedication throughout the trial.
Judge Juan Merchan thanked the jurors, saying they gave the case the attention it deserved, as reported by NBC News.
After the jury left, Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche requested an acquittal, but the judge denied it.
In his closing arguments earlier this week, Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass emphasized that the law applies equally to everyone and urged the jury to hold Trump accountable.
