Former US President Donald Trump has been convicted of falsifying records to conceal a hush money payment to an adult film star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 United States presidential election. A New York City jury unanimously held him guilty on May 30 on all 34 felony counts following a seven-week trial.
With this ruling, Trump has become the first President in US history to be found guilty of a crime. Naturally, the internet is abuzz. Many users on social media started sharing memes as soon as the ruling was made public.
Here are some of the hilarious reactions:
pic.twitter.com/8BBuuC1fAr— Solvi ???????? (@SolviLynx) May 30, 2024
34 is now my favorite number.— Lynda Carter (@RealLyndaCarter) May 30, 2024
We should start referring to him as 34 instead of 45.— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) May 30, 2024
pic.twitter.com/rZ39R0VtR4— Dr Grayfang (@DrGrayfang) May 30, 2024
Statement from Melania Trump supporting her beloved husband: pic.twitter.com/pXBw8lFJ6p— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) May 31, 2024
DO YOU HAVE A POSTER OF RITA HAYWORTH I COULD BORROW? pic.twitter.com/IcSpLMIjnv— christhebarker (@christhebarker) May 30, 2024
OMG HER MIND!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/Zj5L8SHYDl— Ryan Aguirre (@aguirreryan) May 30, 2024
BREAKING: Donald Trump becomes the first actor from Home Alone 2 to be convicted of 34 felonies stemming from hush money payments to a porn star pic.twitter.com/Gou9yoBZgK— Zack Bornstein (@ZackBornstein) May 30, 2024
Orange is the new guilty https://t.co/SgPdQPNuu6— David Preece (@davidpreece12) May 30, 2024
On May 30, a New York jury found Trump guilty in a unanimous decision of fabricating records to hide a sex scandal that had the potential to ruin his candidature for presidential polls in 2016.
The case was linked to a payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the presidential election.
Daniels claimed that she had an intimate relationship with Trump in 2006 and in the run-up to the 2016 election the actress was paid money to keep quiet about it.
While giving hush money is not unlawful in itself, each count of fabrication carries a punishment ranging from one to four years. Therefore, Trump’s conviction means a maximum of 136 years behind bars. In reality, jail sentences for individuals with no prior criminal history, who are just found guilty of falsifying records, are rare in New York. Rather, community service, fines, and probation are more typical forms of punishment.
Even individuals who are convicted of crimes other than falsification usually serve a year or less in prison if they are also found guilty of additional crimes like fraud. However, this isn’t the case with Trump.
The elections to choose the next US President are scheduled in November 2024.
Even while Trump is still quite competitive in surveys, 53% of voters in crucial swing states said they would not support the Republican candidate if he was found guilty in a recent Bloomberg and Morning Consult survey.
According to Melanie Sloan, a government ethics expert and former prosecutor, this conviction may “drive a wedge” between Trump and more liberal supporters, Al Jazeera reported.
Comments
0 comment