The verdict against former US President Donald Trump in the New York criminal trial over the falsification of business records and violations of the election law is expected to be delivered on January 10. This was announced by New York Judge Juan Merchan on Friday (local time).
At the same time, the judge hinted that Trump may not have to go to prison. He referred, among other things, to the immunity decision of the Supreme Court, dominated by Republicans. A conditional release seems “the most practical solution” to ensure the finality of the verdict and to give the defendant the opportunity to use his appeal options, Merchan argued.
Trump was found guilty on all 34 charges. It was the first time a former president was found guilty in a criminal trial. The verdict against Trump is connected to hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels of $130,000. Trump was not charged with the payment itself, which is legal in the US. However, he is accused of having disguised the payments, made by his former lawyer Michael Cohen, as ordinary legal fees.
In New York, falsifying records is only a crime if it aims to conceal another crime. The prosecution suspected a conspiracy to support a political campaign with “illegitimate means” when Trump allegedly used the payments to support his presidential campaign in 2016, violating the election law.
Trump’s former lawyer incriminated the then presidential candidate in the trial: Trump allegedly instructed him to stop reports on his affairs. The former president himself did not testify in the trial. His defense tried to portray Cohen as a liar.