Guilty as charged: A quick guide to Trump's hush money trial in 10 questions

In a historic verdict, former US President Donald Trump was found guilty in the infamous ‘hush money case’ making him the first former President in American history to be convicted of criminal charges.

The business-mogul-turned-politician was found guilty of all 34 counts after a lengthy trial of the case. The Republican presidential hopeful turning into a convicted felon has the potential to affect his bid for the White House as well.

While Trump is yet to receive a sentence in the case, the verdict itself has caused major commotion in American political circles. Here are the 10 questions that can sum up the controversial case:

10 questions that sum it all 

1. What was the case about? 

The former president was indicted on March 30, 2023, and charged with 34 criminal counts for allegedly falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

2. Who is Stormy Daniels? 

Stormy Daniels aka Stephanie Clifford, is a Louisiana-born adult film star and director. Daniels stirred headlines after she claimed that Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen paid her $130,000 to keep mum about her affair with Trump. The payment was made before the 2016 presidential elections to ensure that Trump’s image is not tarnished.

3. What has Trump said on the matte?

The former reality television star denied his affair with Daniels and accused the Biden camp of launching a “witch-hunt” against him.

4. What was the verdict?

In the Thursday hearing, the former US President was found guilty on all 34 charges. The jury returned a unanimous verdict in the same courtroom where the trial unfolded in six weeks.

5. Why it matters? 

Trump became the first US president in the country’s history to be convicted in a legal case. The verdict also has the potential to impact his next bid for the White House. His campaign has already painted him as a “political prisoner”.

6. What comes next? 

With the decision from the jury, Judge Juan Merchan who has presided over the case throughout its course will give sentencing to the former President. This is scheduled to take place on July 11, 10 am (ET).

Since Trump is found guilty in the case, Merchan could sentence him to probation or up to 4 years of imprisonment on each count in state prison. The former US President can be jailed for a maximum of 20 years.

7. Will Trump go behind bars?

Since Trump is a first-time offender, the chances of him going to prison are less. However, it is still possible that Trump can face a prison sentence. Many of the legal experts have called the case the “weakest” out of the lot.

8. Can he still be the president

It is important to note that the Constitution of the United States of America doesn’t bar a convicted criminal from running for the nation’s highest office.

However, the states could disqualify Trump from running due to his other cases that focus on his effort to overturn the 2020 US Presidential election results.

9. What are the rivals saying?

While Biden’s campaign went full guns and blazing on the matter, the White House kept it subtle. A spokesperson for the counsel’s office, Ian Sams, said in a one-sentence statement, “We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment.”

Biden’s campaign on the other hand said that the verdict showed that “no one is above the law” and reminded voters there is “still only one way to keep [Trump] out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box.”

10. What does this mean for Trump’s other criminal cases?

To put it simply, Trump’s conviction means little for his three other criminal cases, which will continue to proceed. The former president’s election subversion criminal case has been on hold while the US Supreme Court considers his claims of presidential immunity.