Everything You Need to Know About the Trump Conviction

Former President Donald Trump arrives to speak to media at Trump Tower, a day after he was found guilty on all 34 felony counts, in New York City on May 31, 2024. Richard Moore/The Epoch Times

With Thursday’s verdict, former President Donald Trump has become the first former American president to be convicted of a felony. Here’s what you need to know to catch up:

1. What Are the Crimes?

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, a class E felony that requires the records to have been falsified to cover up another crime.

Prosecutors alleged that Trump misclassified a hush money payment to adult actress Stormy Daniels in business records as part of a scheme to interfere with the 2016 election.

Those 34 records were 11 invoices, checks, and vouchers (plus an extra replacement check when one was lost) totaling $420,000 in payment from Trump to ex-lawyer Michael Cohen in 2017.

The second crime in question was conspiracy to influence the 2016 election through unlawful means. That the jury did not have to be unanimous about what the “unlawful means” were has become a sticking point for critics of the verdict.

2. When Is Sentencing?

New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan set a July 11 sentencing hearing, and gave the parties a June 13 deadline to file motions. This is just days before the Republican National Convention, where Trump will be nominated GOP presidential candidate.

3. Will Trump Face Prison Time?

Not necessarily. Bragg would not answer whether prosecutors were seeking prison time for Trump, but it is ultimately up to the judge to decide whether Trump will get a jail sentence, or probation, or home confinement.

The judge will take into account Trump’s criminal records—he doesn’t have a prior history—and other factors, like his personal history and the crimes itself.

Trump attorney Todd Blanche said on a CNN appearance after the verdict that, based on precedent, Trump “should never, never face a jail sentence.”

“Other 77-year-old, first-time offenders would never be sent to prison for this conduct,” he said.

Each of the 34 charges carries a maximum sentence of four years imprisonment, but any sentence would likely be served simultaneously. Several legal analysts who spoke with The Epoch Times said they did not believe the judge would jail Trump.

“Judge Juan Merchan showed his reluctance to jail Trump when he violated the gag order 10 times,” said California attorney Neama Rahmani.

The judge had referenced jail time more than once. After 10 gag order violations, the judge said he was willing to issue jail time as the next sanction, but only if prosecutors asked for it. Prosecutors had said they were not making such a request for gag order violations.

4. Will Trump Appeal?

Trump attorneys have said they will appeal a conviction and to the highest court if necessary.

During a press conference May 31, Trump himself confirmed he will appeal, adding that he believed there were many errors in this case that would serve as a basis for overturning the conviction.

5. Can Trump Still Run for President? Can He Self-Pardon?

Yes and no. Nothing currently prevents Trump, as a convicted felon, from running for or serving as president.

But the conviction is from a state case, which means he won’t be able to pardon himself even if he was reelected to the Oval Office. A president can issue pardons in federal cases, but based on Supreme Court justice comments during a hearing on presidential immunity in a separate Trump case this year, whether a president can self-pardon is debatable.

Only New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, can pardon Trump’s state conviction, but it seems unlikely as the governor has been critical of Trump, celebrating the rulings against him in recent civil cases.

6. Is Trump Barred From Voting?

Only if he’s incarcerated when the presidential election comes around.

Trump is registered to vote in Florida but he was convicted in New York. In New York, felons can vote as long as they are not incarcerated. In Florida, felons who were convicted in other states are only barred from voting in Florida if they would have been barred from voting in the state where they were convicted.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis yesterday stepped in, saying he'd make sure the state’s clemency board clears Trump’s ability to vote.

“Given the absurd nature of the New York prosecution of Trump, this would be an easy case to qualify for restoration of rights per the Florida Clemency Board, which I chair,” DeSantis posted on X.

7. Does the Conviction Impact Him Politically?

Polls have largely indicated that the verdict will have a minimal impact on voters who were already planning to vote for Trump or Biden. But if, like the last election, the margin between the two candidates is razor thin, a small percentage of voters swayed by the verdict could make or break a campaign.

A Trump campaign memo summed up their findings, which echo other polls:

“Voters in our key target states have already made up their minds on this trial. Most voters, especially our supporters, believe the case is politically motivated and a conviction would be [the] result of a biased show trial. Biden’s voters will believe President Trump is guilty no matter what,“ it read. ”And those in the middle are largely unconcerned, and their votes aren’t going to hinge on the results of the trial.”

8. How Has His Campaign Responded?

As with major developments in Trump’s other criminal cases, the campaign sent out a fundraising blast when the guilty verdict dropped. Traffic briefly overwhelmed the donation page, and the campaign announced a new record the next day.

It reported a “record shattering small dollar fundraising haul” with nearly $53 million in the 24 hours following the conviction—more than $2 million per hour.

According to the Trump campaign, about a third of these donors have never given to Trump.

“This momentum is just getting started and together, as President Trump stated perfectly, Americans will render the real verdict November 5th,” the campaign stated.