=====

Stand Tall, America! Trump Will Be Reelected With the Largest Rally Crowds Ever

https://www.youtube.com/live/HtsGDxSX2wQ?si=bFVPIp27VTmjfAQQ

Former President Donald Trump was convicted on Thursday by a New York jury on 34 felony charges for falsifying business records, marking a historic first in U.S. history. Trump, visibly sullen, sat quietly as the verdict was read, concluding a trial that has dominated headlines for weeks and will impact his 2024 presidential campaign.

Addressing reporters post-trial, Trump labeled the proceedings as “rigged” and vowed to appeal, calling it a “grave miscarriage of justice.” “We will fight for our constitution. This is far from over,” Trump declared.

Over six weeks, the prosecution argued that Trump, Michael Cohen, and David Pecker conspired to defraud voters by paying off women to hide stories about Trump’s alleged sexual history, without properly recording these payments as campaign-finance expenses. Trump’s defense team countered that the payments did not qualify as campaign expenses and were unrelated to his political ambitions.

The jury began deliberations on Wednesday, and Judge Juan Merchan set the sentencing for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention. Trump faces up to four years in prison, though probation is more likely.

Cohen, a disbarred former attorney and the prosecution’s star witness, testified about Trump's involvement in the hush-money payments. The defense questioned Cohen’s credibility, highlighting his history of lies and financial crimes. Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker also testified about the “catch-and-kill” scheme to suppress damaging stories during the 2016 election.

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg pursued the case, relying on an expansive legal theory to elevate business-records charges to felonies. Trump and his allies have accused Bragg and Merchan of political bias, a claim bolstered by their connections to Democratic campaigns.

With Trump’s conviction, President Joe Biden's campaign may leverage this development, though its impact on voters remains uncertain. The trial’s outcome underscores the unprecedented legal and political landscape leading up to the 2024 election.

*************************************************************