By Jesus Garcia
May 30, 2024, 17:09 PM EDT
NEW YORK.- Former President Donald Trump was found guilty by a jury, which considered the evidence sufficient for the 34 counts of conspiring to make a secret payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.
The 12 members of the jury made the decision “beyond a reasonable doubt,” as Judge Juan Merchan asked them to.
For its determination, the jury took into consideration the evidence of the 22 witnesses and evidence presented by prosecutors.
Judge Merchan will specify a sentencing date for former President Trump, as well as whether he will be sent to prison, although the Republican has the right to appeal the decision.
The trial, which lasted 20 days, was not about the payment to Daniels, but rather how the transaction was managed, hiding financial information and violating electoral rules.
Among the witnesses were Daniels herself and Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, whom the Republican criticized on several occasions.
Cohen revealed to prosecutors the detailed process of how he made the $130,000 payment to Daniels’ lawyer, after signing a confidentiality agreement.
Trump’s former lawyer created a shell company to transfer funds in 2016, a transaction authorized by Trump himself, who then returned the money in 2017 in various payments, including more than the money disbursed.
At the beginning of deliberations, the jury had had problems with some testimony and even asked for clarification on Judge Merchan’s instructions.
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