Former President Donald Trump was found guilty on all counts in a historic criminal trial, becoming the first former U.S. president convicted of a crime. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree.

Trump pleaded not guilty, but the jury found him guilty on all counts, with each count carrying a maximum prison sentence of four years, totaling up to 136 years.

Judge Juan Merchan announced the verdict after two days of deliberations, with sentencing set for July 11, just before the Republican National Convention, where Trump is expected to be nominated for the 2024 presidential race.

Despite the conviction, Trump is not barred from running for president, Fox News reported.

The charges stem from a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels to silence her about an alleged affair, which Trump allegedly tried to conceal by falsifying records.

Trump reacted to the verdict, calling the trial a “disgrace” and “rigged,” blaming a biased judge and a politically motivated prosecution by the Biden administration. He asserted his innocence and vowed to keep fighting.

District Attorney Bragg praised the jury for their diligence and highlighted the importance of holding individuals accountable, regardless of their status. He emphasized that the case was handled like any other, based on facts and law.

Trump’s defense argued that the charges were baseless and that the prosecution failed to meet the burden of proof, criticizing the reliance on testimony from Michael Cohen, Trump’s former attorney.

However, the prosecution maintained that the evidence clearly showed Trump’s intent to defraud, with Cohen providing detailed accounts of the payments and reimbursements.

Following the verdict, Trump’s campaign website labeled him a “political prisoner,” while the Biden campaign reiterated that the only way to keep Trump out of office is through the ballot box.

Michael Cohen, the prosecution’s key witness, celebrated the verdict as a victory for accountability and the rule of law.

Written by B.C. Begley