Donald Trump guilty on all counts in hush money case

NBC 6 South Florida
30 May 202429:49

Summary

TLDRIn a landmark trial, former President Donald Trump has been found guilty on all 34 felony counts, marking a significant moment in American legal history. The charges, related to alleged subversion of democracy and hush money payments, were presented by a prosecution that framed the case as an attack on democratic processes. Despite Trump's claims of political persecution, the jury of 12 New Yorkers reached a unanimous verdict. The verdict has stirred mixed reactions, with some celebrating the decision as a testament to the rule of law, while others, including Trump himself, denounce it as a politically motivated move. The sentencing is set for July 11th, with the potential for jail time ranging from probation to a maximum of four years. The case is expected to have a profound impact on the upcoming presidential election, with both sides viewing it as a pivotal moment for the nation's future.

Takeaways

  • πŸ“’ The jury has found the defendant, Donald Trump, guilty on all 34 felony counts, marking a significant victory for the prosecution.
  • 🎯 The charges are related to accusations of subversion of democracy and hush money, which the prosecution framed as an attempt to corrupt the last election.
  • πŸ‘₯ The verdict was delivered by a jury of 12 New Yorkers, who reached an independent conclusion, rejecting the defense's arguments.
  • πŸ—£οΈ Trump has characterized the trial as politically motivated, alleging bias from the judge and a Democratic-led prosecution.
  • πŸ‘₯ The crowd outside the courthouse was emotionally charged, with both supporters and opponents of the verdict expressing strong reactions.
  • πŸ“‰ Trump's response was to denounce the trial as rigged and a disgrace, vowing to continue fighting and claiming the real verdict will come in the form of the November elections.
  • πŸ›οΈ The judge has not yet sentenced Trump, who faces a range of potential outcomes from probation to up to four years in prison.
  • πŸ“š There is speculation about the impact of the verdict on the upcoming presidential election, with some suggesting it could both hurt and help Trump's campaign.
  • 🚫 Despite the conviction, Trump is still eligible to run for president as the Constitution does not prohibit convicted felons from holding office.
  • πŸ“… The sentencing date has been set for July 11th, which coincides with the Republican convention and the potential announcement of Trump's vice presidential pick.
  • πŸ”„ Trump's legal troubles are not over, as there are three other pending cases, including federal charges related to election interference and holding classified documents.

Q & A

  • What was the outcome of the trial for Donald Trump?

    -Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony counts.

  • How did the jury reach their verdict?

    -The jury reached a unanimous verdict, convicting the defendant on each of the counts presented to them.

  • What was the reaction of the crowd outside the courthouse upon hearing the verdict?

    -The crowd outside the courthouse had mixed reactions, with some showing support for Trump and others expressing their approval of the verdict.

  • What did the prosecution argue the case was about?

    -The prosecution argued that the case was about the subversion of democracy, not just about hush money.

  • How did Donald Trump characterize the trial?

    -Donald Trump characterized the trial as a politically motivated persecution, blaming a biased judge and the Democratic party.

  • What is the potential jail time for Donald Trump?

    -The potential jail time for Donald Trump ranges from probation up to a maximum of four years, although the exact sentence will be determined by the judge.

  • What is the status of Donald Trump's legal situation regarding other cases?

    -There are three other cases pending against Donald Trump: one state case in Georgia and two federal cases, one related to election interference and the other concerning classified documents.

  • Can a convicted felon still run for and serve as President of the United States?

    -Yes, the Constitution does not prohibit a convicted felon from running for or serving as President, unless the party decides not to nominate them.

  • What is the significance of the sentencing date announced by the judge?

    -The sentencing date is set for July 11th, which is 4 days before the start of the Republican convention and likely during the announcement of Trump's vice presidential pick.

  • How did the former president's supporters react to the verdict?

    -Supporters of the former president were very worked up, with some expressing their dissatisfaction and others maintaining their support for him.

  • What is the role of the gag order in this trial?

    -The gag order was in place to prevent the former president from attacking witnesses, and he was found in contempt of court 10 times for violating it, although he was not given jail time for these violations.

Outlines

00:00

πŸ“£ Verdict Announcement: Trump Found Guilty on All Counts

The video script begins with a reporter announcing that Donald Trump has been found guilty on all 34 felony counts. The reporter emphasizes the significance of the verdict, describing it as a 'total victory for the prosecution' and a 'resounding victory' that rejects Trump's defense entirely. The case was pitched as an issue of subversion of democracy, and the jury agreed with this perspective. The reporter also notes the emotional reactions from the crowd outside the courthouse, which includes both supporters and opponents of the verdict. The scene is set in the context of Trump being the presumptive GOP nominee during an election year, with the prosecution's case alleging that Trump attempted to corrupt the last election.

05:03

πŸ›οΈ Legal Analysis and Potential Implications of the Verdict

In this paragraph, the discussion turns to the legal implications of the verdict. The reporter explains that Trump, despite being found guilty, could still run for president as the Constitution does not prohibit a convicted felon from holding office. However, the decision on whether he would serve jail time is now in the hands of the judge, who has the discretion to sentence him anywhere from probation to up to four years in prison for the low-level felonies. The reporter also notes the unusual nature of the case, given Trump's status as a former president and current presumptive GOP nominee, and the potential for a lengthy appeals process. Additionally, accommodations made by the judge for Trump, such as not enforcing jail time for violations of a gag order, are highlighted.

10:03

πŸ—³οΈ Political Fallout and Public Reaction to the Verdict

The script explores the potential political impact of the verdict, noting that it is uncertain whether the conviction will help or hurt Trump in the upcoming presidential election. Some polling suggests that about two-thirds of Americans would not change their vote regardless of the verdict, while 10 to 25% of independents might be less likely to vote for Trump. The reporter also discusses the immediate public reaction, with some expressing happiness at the verdict as a demonstration of the legal system working as it should, while others are devastated. The segment includes an interview with a man named Jeffrey who believes the verdict is a sign that no one is above the law, and that the real verdict will come in the form of the upcoming election.

15:04

πŸ—£οΈ Trump's Response to the Verdict and the Path Forward

In this segment, Trump's response to the verdict is captured as he addresses the American people. He characterizes the trial as 'rigged' and 'disgraceful,' blaming a 'corrupt' judge and 'conflicted' system. Trump asserts his innocence and frames the situation as a political attack by the Biden Administration. He also hints at the ongoing struggle, suggesting that the 'real verdict' will come on 'November 5th,' likely referring to the election. The reporter notes that Trump's remarks echo his previous statements both inside and outside the courtroom, and that his demeanor appears grim and angry. The segment also touches on the potential impact of the verdict on Trump's campaign and the upcoming Republican convention.

20:05

πŸ•°οΈ Timeline of Upcoming Legal Events and Speculations

The script outlines the timeline for the remaining legal cases against Trump, including a federal election interference case awaiting a decision from the Supreme Court, a Florida federal case on classified documents, and a state case in Georgia. The reporter notes that it is unlikely any of these cases will proceed to trial before the election. There is also speculation about what might happen if Trump were to be inaugurated again, with the suggestion that pending federal cases might be dismissed by a Trump-appointed attorney general or that Trump might attempt a self-pardon. The segment concludes with a discussion of the technicalities of when Trump would officially be considered a felon and the potential impact of his New York State conviction on his federal cases.

25:05

🎭 Political Maneuvering and Public Statements Post-Verdict

The final paragraph focuses on the political maneuvering following the verdict. It includes a statement from the Biden campaign emphasizing that the only way to keep Trump out of the Oval Office is through the ballot box in November. The statement also criticizes Trump for believing he would never face consequences for his actions. The script notes that Trump has already begun using the trial for political fundraising, calling himself a 'political prisoner' in a campaign appeal. The segment ends with a reflection on the timing of the verdict, coinciding with the 9th anniversary of the death of President Biden's son, Bo Biden, and the expectation that the White House will emphasize the importance of respecting the rule of law.

Mindmap

Keywords

πŸ’‘Verdict

A verdict is the decision made by a jury at the end of a trial regarding the guilt or innocence of the defendant. In the context of the video, the term 'verdict' is central as it refers to the jury's decision on the 34 felony counts against the former president, all of which resulted in guilty verdicts, marking a significant outcome in the trial.

πŸ’‘Prosecution

The prosecution refers to the legal team that represents the government in a criminal trial and seeks to prove the defendant's guilt. In the video, the prosecution is mentioned as having a 'total victory', indicating that they successfully convinced the jury of the defendant's guilt on all counts, which is a major theme of the video.

πŸ’‘Defendant

A defendant is the party against whom a criminal prosecution is brought. In this video, the term 'defendant' is used to refer to the former president, who is the subject of the trial and has been found guilty on all counts, highlighting the video's focus on his legal situation.

πŸ’‘Guilty

Guilty is a term used to describe the state of a person who has been found to have committed a crime. The video script repeatedly states 'guilty' in association with the counts against the former president, emphasizing the outcome of the trial and the gravity of the situation.

πŸ’‘Felony

A felony is a serious crime that is punishable by imprisonment for more than one year or by death. The video mentions '34 felony counts', indicating the severity of the charges against the former president and the high stakes of the trial.

πŸ’‘Jurors

Jurors are the members of a jury who are sworn to render a verdict in a trial based on the evidence presented. The script discusses the jurors' unanimous decision, which was 'guilty' on all counts, showcasing the role of the jury in the judicial process highlighted in the video.

πŸ’‘Subversion of Democracy

Subversion of democracy refers to actions that undermine the principles and processes of a democratic system. The prosecution's case, as mentioned in the video, was pitched as being about the subversion of democracy, suggesting that the trial's theme involves a broader political context and implications for the democratic process.

πŸ’‘Political Prosecution

Political prosecution is the act of using the legal system to persecute someone for political reasons rather than for committing a crime. The former president has tried to frame the case as a 'political prosecution', according to the video, indicating his defense strategy and adding a layer of political controversy to the trial.

πŸ’‘Appeal

An appeal is a legal procedure by which a case is brought from a lower court to a higher court for a new trial. The video discusses the possibility of an appeal by the former president, which is a standard legal process following a conviction and suggests that the legal battle may continue.

πŸ’‘Sentencing

Sentencing is the formal announcement by a judge in a court of law of the punishment to be imposed on a person found guilty of a criminal offense. The video mentions that sentencing will occur on July 11th, which is a critical next step in the legal process following the guilty verdicts.

πŸ’‘Gag Order

A gag order is a legal order prohibiting or restraining a person from speaking publicly about a particular subject. The video notes that the judge found the former president in contempt of court for multiple violations of a gag order, which is a significant aspect of the legal proceedings and reflects the judge's efforts to maintain the integrity of the trial.

Highlights

Verdict announced: Donald Trump found guilty on all 34 felony counts.

Prosecution's case was about subversion of democracy, and the jury agreed with the full case presented.

No compromise verdict from the jury, a total rejection of the defendant's case.

Trump's claims of political persecution and bias were dismissed by the 12 New York jurors.

Significant emotions and reactions from Trump supporters and others outside the courthouse.

Trump's legal team's strategy and arguments during the trial, including the attempt to sway the jury on sentencing.

Judge's role in sentencing and the range of punishment from probation to up to four years in prison.

Discussion on whether Trump will have to serve jail time and the potential for an appeal.

Trump's response to the verdict, claiming the trial was rigged and politically motivated.

The impact of the verdict on the upcoming presidential election and Trump's campaign.

Legal arguments and potential appeals that Trump's team may use moving forward.

The judge's handling of the case and the accommodations made for Trump as a former president.

Sentencing date set for July 11th, and the implications for Trump's campaign and the Republican convention.

Trump's public statement after the verdict, vowing to fight and claiming innocence.

Analysis of the political ramifications and the Biden campaign's response to the verdict.

Other pending legal cases against Trump and their potential impact on his political future.

Inside the courtroom: The atmosphere and reactions as the verdict was read.

Transcripts

00:00

guys we need to go we need to go okay

00:04

okay here we go we have our verdict

00:05

Savannah here we go count one guilty

00:09

count two guilty count three guilty

00:12

count four guilty count five guilty

00:16

count six guilty count seven guilty

00:20

count8 guilty count nine guilty count 10

00:25

guilty count 11 guilty count 12 guilty

00:30

count 13 guilty count 14 guilty count 15

00:36

guilty count 16 guilty count 17 guilty

00:41

count 18 guilty count 19 guilty count 20

00:46

guilty count 21

00:49

guilty count 22

00:52

guilty count

00:55

23

00:57

guilty I'm pausing cuz it's coming in

00:59

count 24

01:01

guilty count 25

01:04

guilty count 26

01:08

guilty count

01:10

27 guilty count 28 guilty count 29

01:17

guilty count 30 guilty count 31 guilty

01:22

count

01:23

32

01:26

guilty count 33 guilty

01:31

count 34 guilty that is 34 felony counts

01:34

here all guilty verdicts Savannah ler

01:38

back to you a total victory for the

01:40

prosecution here Laura the jurors

01:42

obviously bought the prosecution case in

01:44

full there was a consideration of

01:46

whether or not they they might split

01:48

their verdict or compromise in some way

01:50

that is not the case it's a total

01:51

rejection of the de uh defendant's case

01:54

Donald Trump's case and we're starting

01:56

to show you some of the the scene

01:57

outside the courthouse we could actually

01:59

hear it

02:00

as you were reading that verdict and and

02:02

just as you're digesting it and I know

02:04

you're keeping your eye on the courtroom

02:05

as well what do you make of this

02:09

verdict Savannah it's a resounding

02:12

victory for this prosecution in a case

02:15

that they pitched as something far

02:17

greater than about hush money the way

02:19

they tried to cast this case was about

02:21

the subversion of democracy and today

02:24

the jury agreed with him Savannah the

02:26

former president has tried to cast this

02:27

as a political prosecution a political

02:30

hip butt job by a Democratic elected da

02:33

by a judge that was a bias against him

02:36

but these 12 jurors these 12 New Yorkers

02:39

have come to a different conclusion an

02:40

independent conclusion that the former

02:43

president of the United States is guilty

02:45

a 34 felony accounts you can hear the

02:48

crowd here there's a lot of trump

02:50

supporters out here that you can hear

02:52

are very worked up as I was reading the

02:54

verdict I could hear the crowd emotion

02:57

growing behind me I'm only a couple

02:59

yards away from the area that you can

03:01

see on your screens right there sort of

03:03

the the First Amendment area if you will

03:05

it's just a stone sow away from the

03:07

Press area it's been growing as the day

03:09

went on it's growing after they heard

03:12

that this verdict was coming in a lot of

03:14

emotions running very high in this city

03:16

right now again this is the presumptive

03:19

GOP nominee in the middle of an election

03:22

year for things that he did that the

03:25

prosecution said he did to try to

03:27

corrupt the last election a just

03:28

remarkable scene playing out right here

03:30

in lower manhatt I want to read we're

03:31

getting some color from the uh from the

03:34

courtroom um Tom wter saying Trump is

03:37

looking at each juror as they are pulled

03:39

craning his head at times to look at all

03:42

the jurors we're still waiting for kind

03:43

of a read on what the reaction has been

03:46

the former president of course has been

03:47

behind closed doors in a holding room uh

03:50

throughout the the trial frankly but

03:52

certainly waiting uh unable to leave the

03:54

courthouse and waiting for the verdict

03:56

so we're going to get a little more

03:57

information Dasha burns are you still uh

03:59

with in the crowd there what's her

04:02

name hey ler can you hear me I can hear

04:04

you go

04:05

[Music]

04:06

ahead ler if you can hear me there's a

04:09

lot of passion in this park right now

04:11

the former president has alleged a

04:12

couple of times that it because of the

04:14

police presence here right the

04:16

protesters demonstrators weren't able to

04:18

come they absolutely can and this crowd

04:20

is growing here I've been talking to

04:22

people who are happy about this verdict

04:24

people who are devastated about this

04:26

verdict you just saw this man uh with a

04:29

passionate we here I also just met this

04:32

gentleman what's your name Sir Jeffrey

04:34

Jeffrey um Jeffrey what is your reaction

04:37

as we're all just taking this in right

04:38

now well we're watching the legal system

04:40

work the way it's supposed to work in a

04:43

democracy three equal branches of

04:45

government no one is above the law uh he

04:48

was indicted by a jury of his peers this

04:50

was not political this was not Joe Biden

04:53

despite the alt-right rhetoric it was a

04:56

grand jury indictment and now a jury

04:59

conviction of his peers and this is the

05:02

the legal system working and uh this is

05:05

this is how America is supposed to work

05:07

and I feel very happy for America I feel

05:10

very happy for democracy because this is

05:12

how it's supposed to work Jeffrey thank

05:15

you so much I appreciate it Lester

05:17

Savannah back to you H I would expect

05:18

we're going to hear a lot of that a

05:20

characterization of this as a fair trial

05:22

as a a fair Judgment of the former

05:24

president yeah not from the former

05:26

president himself of course as he has

05:27

worked for months now to cast this as a

05:29

political persecution against him and I

05:31

think it's worth taking a beat here

05:32

right and and recognizing that whether

05:35

you like this verdict or not this is an

05:37

historic moment this is the former

05:39

president of the United States and the

05:41

current presumptive Republican nominee

05:44

in a razor close race now coming up in

05:47

November that has been convicted on

05:49

these 34 counts in a court of law and

05:51

there's going to be a lot of discussion

05:53

about the politics I want to get to

05:54

Laura Jared on a a pretty key thing that

05:56

I'm sure a lot of our viewers are

05:57

wondering will he have to serve any jail

06:00

time what is the potential for jail time

06:03

and what is the the timing of any

06:07

appeal it's a great question Savannah

06:09

and it's something that I have purposely

06:11

uh tried not to talk with you about very

06:13

much during this trial because he was

06:14

entitled to a presumption of innocence

06:16

and so it seemed premature that's a

06:18

different situation now that he has been

06:19

convicted of 34 felony counts these are

06:22

low-level felonies he does not have any

06:24

criminal history which means he hasn't

06:26

been convicted before and so the judge

06:28

will be the one who will determine his

06:30

sentence in this case he faces anywhere

06:32

from just probation to up to four years

06:35

in prison now the fact that he was

06:36

convicted on all 34 felony counts

06:39

actually functionally doesn't make any

06:41

difference because they were all the

06:42

same so it would be as if he was

06:44

convicted on one for all purposes in

06:46

other words they're not stacked it's not

06:48

four time 34 it's just four Max given

06:51

what he's facing here again for those

06:53

low-level felonies the judge will be the

06:55

one to sentence him he will get sort of

06:57

recommendations from both sides about an

07:00

adequate and appropriate sentence would

07:01

be he's going to hear from the probation

07:03

department all of this guys is going to

07:05

take months and months this sentence is

07:07

not going to just happen overnight the

07:10

judge actually making it very clear into

07:12

the jury that their job was not to

07:14

consider the sentence at all that had

07:16

come up in closing arguments the lead

07:18

attorney for the president had tried to

07:20

argue don't put this man in prison and

07:22

the judge interrupted and said no no no

07:23

no disregard that that's my job that's

07:25

not your job so the judge will be the

07:27

one who will bring everybody in in

07:29

several weeks to discuss sentencing a

07:31

plan for sentencing and then we'll see

07:33

where he goes with this I think one

07:35

thing to keep in mind here is that this

07:37

is a person who not only is the former

07:39

president but the current presumptive

07:42

GOP nominee and again it just it's hard

07:45

to really understate and underscore I

07:47

think it's it's necessary how unusual

07:49

this is this is not any other criminal

07:51

defendant as much as people have said

07:53

that he's not just any other criminal

07:55

defendant and the judge is going to have

07:57

a really tough situation here in sort of

08:00

balancing all the competing factors

08:02

making sure he's paying attention to the

08:03

case law making sure he's paying

08:05

attention to obviously to any past

08:07

president that applies to these types of

08:09

felonies in this type of situation but

08:11

this again will take weeks and weeks and

08:13

months and of course he's entitled to an

08:14

appeal this is not the end of the road

08:16

for the former president there is plenty

08:18

on this record to appeal there are

08:20

plenty of legal arguments it's always

08:22

hard to challenge a jury verdict but

08:24

there are plenty of tricky complicated

08:26

legal arguments in this case that the

08:27

former president commerciall and his

08:29

faor

08:29

in terms of doing that appeal and

08:31

typically in this kind of a case the

08:34

you're going to hear the former

08:35

president say he gets to stay out of

08:37

prison while that appeal goes on so it's

08:39

not as if he would be behind bars or in

08:41

custody while that appeal is going on

08:43

Laura has the judge made many

08:45

accommodations acknowledging that this a

08:47

is a former president and and B is a

08:49

presumptive nominee for his

08:53

party yes in in one big way Lester and

08:56

the biggest way is that he had 10

08:59

separate violations of a gag order He

09:01

was ordered not to attack Witnesses and

09:04

the judge found him in contemp of Court

09:05

10 different times I I say that because

09:08

any other defendant would have been in a

09:10

heap of trouble for that and I'm not

09:12

trying to Discount the fine that he

09:13

faced for that but but any other

09:15

defendant would have faced jail time for

09:16

that and the judge went on the record

09:18

many times saying please don't do this I

09:21

don't want to put you in prison but I

09:22

may have to if you continue to violate

09:24

the gag order now we haven't heard much

09:26

about the gag order but that gag order

09:27

is going to be in place while this case

09:30

continues on uh at least through

09:32

sentencing and then we'll see where it

09:34

goes with that but he's as of this

09:35

moment still under that gag order last

09:37

La a couple notes from the courtroom

09:39

while we were talking not surprisingly

09:41

as is customary the defense has already

09:43

made a motion for AC quiddle arguing

09:45

that the jury could must have relied on

09:47

Michael Cohen's testimony solely which

09:49

was in violation of the jury

09:51

instructions that motion already denied

09:54

by the judge that's the scene outside as

09:56

the crowd grows uh outside the

09:58

courthouse I to turn to hie Jackson here

10:00

hie you just said it very

10:03

starkly Donald Trump convicted felon

10:06

candidate for office of the presidency

10:08

of the United States what has been so

10:10

interesting is The X Factor is no one

10:13

really knows how this will play whether

10:16

it hurts him in the upcoming presidental

10:18

election or whether it helps him because

10:21

aspects of this have certainly helped

10:22

him in the primary race that's right it

10:25

has always been a question mark as to

10:26

how this would affect him in the general

10:28

election we have seen some polling

10:29

including some new numbers out today

10:31

suggesting that about two-thirds of

10:32

Americans say even if he were to be

10:34

convicted as we now know he has been it

10:36

wouldn't change their vote they would

10:38

still vote the same way that said

10:40

anywhere from 10 to about 25% of

10:43

independent suggest that it may make

10:44

them less likely to vote for the former

10:47

president still Savannah a hypothetical

10:49

is very different from the reality that

10:51

we now face let me let me point

10:52

something out here because people may

10:53

have this question can Donald Trump

10:55

still run for president even though he's

10:57

been convicted he sure can there is

10:59

nothing in the Constitution that

11:00

prohibits or precludes him from this

11:02

unless the Republican Party were to for

11:05

example uh come up and say we don't want

11:07

you as our nominee anymore let me tell

11:09

you why that's not going to happen

11:10

because we are already hearing from the

11:11

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson the

11:13

top Republican of course in the House of

11:15

Representatives calling this essentially

11:17

a shameful day in American history

11:20

describing what he sees as the

11:21

weaponization of our justice system

11:23

remember this is somebody who showed up

11:24

at Court while Donald Trump was in trial

11:27

and we just the judge has just announced

11:29

a a sentencing date let's go back to

11:30

Laura for that what are you

11:32

hearing straight yeah guys it's

11:35

interesting this came up right away and

11:37

the prosecution made a suggestion about

11:39

sentencing and the defense attorney made

11:42

a suggestion asking for a sentencing in

11:44

mid to late July pointing out that the

11:46

former president faces other charges in

11:49

other jurisdictions remember this is

11:51

just one of four different criminal

11:52

cases perhaps the only one that will

11:54

reach a conclusion before election day

11:56

and the former president's lawyer

11:57

pointing to that as a reason to sort of

11:59

put off sentencing for a little while

12:01

and the judge announcing sentencing will

12:02

be on July 11th guys July 11th at 10:00

12:05

a.m. the former president will face his

12:07

sentencing so again as I mentioned

12:09

before the people the defense are now

12:11

going to put in motions and briefs about

12:14

what they think the appropriate

12:15

sentencing will do and then or what an

12:17

appropriate sentence would accomplish

12:19

and it's interesting uh they're not

12:22

they're not really discussing any of the

12:24

conditions of release quite yes we're

12:27

going to I'm going to wait for more

12:28

information about that before I into

12:30

that guys but for right now July 11th is

12:32

sentencing and his bail continues Laura

12:34

so he's out of court he he he'll be free

12:36

on bail while pending senten I think we

12:39

just got our first glimpse of Mr Trump

12:41

from behind the glass or he he darted

12:43

back behind but um uh Eric Trump is here

12:46

this is a again the camera that we have

12:49

been seeing every day the arrival and

12:50

departure and and remarks uh from former

12:53

president Trump and uh we believe he is

12:56

uh in this group here and uh we would

12:59

guess but we don't know for sure whether

13:00

they'll address the cameras here he

13:02

comes Mr Trump what do you to say to the

13:05

American

13:06

people Mr Trump

13:09

[Music]

13:12

how are you worried about going to

13:14

[Music]

13:18

jail this was a disgrace this was a

13:21

rigged trial by a conflicted judge who

13:24

was

13:25

corrupt it's a rig trial a disgrace

13:29

they wouldn't give us a venue change we

13:32

were at 5% or

13:35

6% in this District in this area this

13:39

was a rigged disgraceful trial and the

13:42

real verdict is going to be November 5th

13:45

by the people and they know what

13:48

happened here and everybody knows what

13:49

happened here you have a Sor respect da

13:54

and the whole thing we didn't do a thing

13:57

wrong I'm a very innocent

14:00

man and it's okay I'm fighting for our

14:03

country I'm fighting for our

14:04

constitution our whole country is being

14:07

rigged right now this was done by the

14:09

Biden

14:10

Administration in order to wound or hurt

14:14

an opponent a political opponent and I

14:17

think it's just a disgrace and we'll

14:19

keep fighting we'll fight till the end

14:21

and we'll win because our country's gone

14:23

to hell we don't have the same country

14:26

anymore we have a divided mess we're

14:29

nation in Decline serious decline

14:31

millions and millions of people pouring

14:33

into our country right now from prisons

14:36

and from mental institutions terrorists

14:40

and they're taking over our country we

14:42

have a country that's in big trouble but

14:45

this was a rigged decision right from

14:47

day one with a conflicted judge who

14:49

should have never been allowed to try

14:51

this case never and we will fight for

14:54

our constitution this is long from over

14:56

thank you very much why should go for

14:59

taking no questions the former president

15:01

now about to leave the courthouse his

15:03

remarks very similar to what we have

15:05

heard during other appearances at the

15:07

courthouse and frankly during

15:08

appearances at some of the rallies he's

15:10

been able to fit in around say though

15:11

the demeanor grim and angry uh and and

15:15

clearly the weight of this is upon him

15:18

and he said something so interesting hie

15:20

he said the real verdict will come

15:22

November 5th and to a certain extent he

15:26

is right because for those who were

15:28

thinking that there might be some legal

15:29

resolution that would affect whether or

15:32

not Donald Trump will ever see the IAL

15:33

office again this case is likely not it

15:36

as you just mentioned you can be a

15:38

convicted felon and run for president

15:41

and you can be a convicted felon and

15:43

serve as president so the real verdict

15:46

in terms of the politics is November 5th

15:48

he also said I just want to say point of

15:50

fact that this was a a Biden

15:52

Administration uh hit job on him this is

15:55

a state prosecution the da here Alvin

15:58

brag is certainly no fan of Mr Trump so

16:00

you can't say there's no politics in it

16:01

but this is not a federal Biden

16:04

Administration prosecution and in fact

16:06

President Biden has gone to um notable

16:09

lengths to distance himself from

16:11

commenting or reacting to much of the

16:13

day-to-day about the trial or about

16:14

these specifics on the legal issues here

16:16

you know you you point out and that

16:18

caught my ear too that the real verdict

16:19

is in November because that is going to

16:21

be former president Trump's rallying cry

16:23

for the months that we have until this

16:25

election takes place because he sees it

16:27

as an effective way to rally people

16:29

around him here um it is notable here

16:32

that he is coming out I think it's

16:33

interesting that it was a fairly short

16:35

statement this is a listen having

16:37

covered him in the white house for many

16:39

years he understands the power of a

16:40

television camera upon him and how to

16:43

react in front of that television camera

16:45

he didn't go on for 25 minutes and he

16:47

frankly could have in this instance I

16:48

just want to note one other thing too on

16:49

this sentencing date Savannah as we talk

16:51

about the politics piece it is 4 days

16:54

before the start of the Republican

16:55

convention When Donald Trump is expected

16:57

to officially take the nomination for

16:59

the Republican party and it is also

17:01

almost certainly going to be right in

17:02

the middle of an announcement of his

17:04

vice presidential pick he has suggested

17:06

he would do that in early July probably

17:08

right before the convention what a

17:10

collision of the campaign and the legal

17:12

problems that he faces well let me ask

17:13

Danny a question on that because let's

17:15

just say the judge did give him jail

17:17

time on July 11th would he be remanded

17:19

right then and there to the state prison

17:22

and what does that mean in terms of the

17:24

the convention and the campaign well

17:26

that it first of all the issue of prison

17:28

is an isue that the secret service has

17:30

been very quiet about how they would

17:31

handle actually incarcerating a former

17:33

president and a presidential candidate

17:35

and I think that will factor into the

17:37

judge's decision I think in all

17:39

likelihood you're not looking at a

17:41

sentence of imprisonment we may have

17:43

been over this but it's classy felony

17:45

nonviolent age of the offender uh no

17:48

guns no drugs not likely to happen here

17:50

in most jurisdictions for example in

17:52

federal you get a Turnin date you can

17:55

you ask for a Turnin date it actually

17:56

helps you with your sentence uh here in

17:58

New York it's uncertain whether or not

18:00

the judge would remand him right away

18:01

but the odds of him being uh imprisoned

18:04

on this class E felony which is the

18:06

lowest level felony for a non-violent

18:08

first-time offender of his age very

18:11

unlikely judge Maran certainly knows

18:13

that and has seemed to want to bend over

18:15

backwards to say I'm not treating this

18:16

defendant any differently although Laura

18:19

Jarrett says his violations of the gag

18:20

order would have landed probably any

18:22

typical defendant in much more hot water

18:24

yes and something else to consider too

18:26

that his sentence will now actually

18:27

affect particularly with his Federal

18:29

cases his two Federal criminal cases it

18:31

will now affect his criminal history

18:33

category so sentencing in federal court

18:35

and I'm jumping the gun assuming that

18:36

there may be a conviction in his Federal

18:38

cases uh is a function of the gravity of

18:41

the offense and your criminal history

18:42

category now he may have a criminal

18:44

history but real quickly for those who

18:46

are who are just tuning in here he has

18:48

been found guilty now in this Manhattan

18:50

this New York State case there are three

18:53

other cases pending one is a state case

18:55

in Georgia two are federal cases one

18:57

regarding efforts to subvert the January

19:00

uh the the the election in 2020 and

19:01

January 6 the other having to do with

19:03

holding on to classified documents but

19:06

generally speaking it is not expected

19:08

that any of those cases will proceed to

19:10

trial before election day and more than

19:13

that there's a strong probability that

19:15

if any of the two Federal cases are

19:16

still pending when he's inaugurated they

19:19

will disappear either he will appoint an

19:21

attorney general who is favor favorable

19:23

to him that attorney general will

19:24

dismiss the cases and barring that he

19:26

may attempt uh a self- pardon which may

19:29

or may not work we simply don't know if

19:31

Biden wins they continue but he's a

19:33

private citizen and we'll see where that

19:35

leads exactly right just a quick legal

19:36

point he is not a convicted felon until

19:39

he sentenced is that technically yes uh

19:42

technically once he is sentenced he will

19:44

be a Fel he is technically a felon now

19:47

but the typically the end of the case

19:49

the dist the trial court end of the case

19:52

is upon the sentence then you file your

19:54

notice of appeal and then you are

19:55

considered a felon during the pendency

19:57

of that appeal there's some

19:58

jurisdictions were strangely

20:00

Massachusetts is one while your case is

20:02

on appeal uh a very famous Aaron

20:04

Hernandez the wide receiver for the

20:06

Patriots died while his case was on

20:07

appeal and under Massachusetts law that

20:09

resulted in him not having a criminal

20:11

history that is the exception that is

20:13

not the norm as we talk about the other

20:14

legal issues that the former president

20:16

faces it may be worth getting a gut

20:17

check on the timing and the timeline

20:19

here for those three cases Savannah that

20:21

you've laid out the next one that we're

20:22

watching the most closely is that

20:23

federal election interference case

20:25

because we are waiting for that critical

20:26

decision from the Supreme Court at some

20:28

point probably by the end of next month

20:31

by the end of June before their term

20:32

ends uh when they will decide on the

20:34

former president's claim of immunity in

20:36

that case there's the Florida federal

20:39

case on the classified documents that

20:40

were taken to Mara Lago after the former

20:42

president's time in the White House

20:44

they're going through a whole bunch of

20:45

pre-trial issues on that one the next

20:47

hearing is Late July it really doesn't

20:49

look like that one is close to beginning

20:51

at this point uh as it is sort of

20:53

working through the system here and then

20:54

there's that state case in Georgia The

20:56

Fulton County election interference case

20:58

the next Hearing in August is on the

21:01

former president's appeal regarding the

21:03

prosecutor in that case fonnie Willis

21:05

and whether she should be allowed to

21:06

continue to prosecute the claims against

21:08

him so the timeline is stretching right

21:10

I mean this is the case that I think

21:12

people thought if it came would be

21:13

resolved prior to the election and

21:15

that's exactly what we're seeing here

21:17

let's bring in someone who worked for Mr

21:19

Trump's White House former White House

21:20

Deputy press secretary Hogan gy Hogan

21:23

thank you for being with us give me your

21:25

initial thoughts well um someone I

21:28

worked with for a long time actually on

21:30

the first impeachment was a man named

21:31

Alan dtz who you know very well and uh

21:34

he said one of the things he was most

21:35

concerned about in all of these matters

21:37

with Donald Trump was the venue Donald

21:39

Trump alluded to it in his comments

21:41

there you hit on some of them where he

21:42

pointed out the real verdict is going to

21:44

be on November 5th couldn't get a fair

21:46

trial here the venue was a problem he

21:49

also said this is far from over uh I

21:51

think that's very poignant from from the

21:53

former president because he understands

21:55

just what is at stake here and I know

21:57

Savannah for example you used to be a

21:59

reporter there at court TV I think

22:01

you're even an attorney as I as I recall

22:04

and and for the life of me I I can't

22:05

imagine any other case where you would

22:07

allow a defendant to stand trial for a

22:10

month but no one would tell you what you

22:12

were accused of until the last part of

22:15

the closing arguments the whole thing on

22:17

its face in my opinion is a complete and

22:21

total joke now what the left has gotten

22:23

in this verdict is exactly what they

22:25

wanted yes they wanted to bleed him dry

22:27

financially yes they wanted to to keep

22:28

him off the campaign Trail and they

22:30

wanted to be able to call him a

22:32

convicted felon this is pure purely

22:35

political and you're going to see that

22:37

when Joe Biden himself is going to

22:39

address this from the White House

22:40

elevating this and showing some of the

22:42

rampant politics around this uh these

22:45

proceedings well Hogan just a point of

22:47

of of Correction there of course the

22:50

former president knows very well what

22:52

the charges are against him they're laid

22:54

out in a 34C count indictment but I

22:55

think what you're referring to which is

22:57

a fair point is that some of those

22:59

underlying crimes that are sort of the

23:01

giring and the foundation of those

23:03

charges which are clearly delineated

23:06

those were not really delineated until

23:08

the final hour in closing argument so I

23:10

understand what you're saying I just

23:11

want to make sure that we're clear about

23:13

that and how do you mount a defense you

23:15

don't know those things those are key to

23:16

the case well there were aspects of it

23:18

that that came out through the trial so

23:20

yes and and and by the way the defense

23:22

did respond to them in the trial just

23:25

want to note as we talk about uh what is

23:27

happening politically here and as Hogan

23:29

has brought up for example President

23:31

Biden in just the last minute he has

23:32

tweeted from his campaign account that

23:34

there's only one way to keep Donald

23:36

Trump out of the Oval Office at The

23:38

Ballot Box now not specifically

23:40

referencing the verdict not specifically

23:42

referencing the convictions here for the

23:43

former president but interesting

23:45

Savannah and Lester both Don Donald

23:48

Trump and Joe Biden are saying it all

23:50

comes down to November on that these two

23:52

agree on that point well there's no

23:54

question and I think there were

23:55

partisans people who are obviously not

23:57

fans of of the former president who were

23:59

hoping there would be a legal resolution

24:01

to what they perceive as a political

24:03

problem that in all likelihood is not

24:06

going to happen although we will see

24:08

whether or not the judge marshan sees

24:11

fit to to give him jail time and how

24:13

that might affect anything but again I

24:15

mean it's as extraordinary as it is our

24:18

constitution has very few requirements

24:20

in terms of Eligibility to be president

24:22

you got to be 35 years old you have to

24:24

have lived in this country for 10 years

24:26

and you have to be a natural born

24:27

citizen and why the founders didn't want

24:30

to put a list of requirements they

24:32

wanted the voters to decide they wanted

24:34

the voters to say this is unacceptable

24:36

for us for a president and this is fine

24:39

and that is essentially what will happen

24:40

in this election in November what we're

24:42

seeing too from the Biden campaign is

24:44

this pivot to a degree or at least a

24:46

shift towards what a senior campaign

24:48

official had told me just within the

24:50

last 72 hours that they had wanted to do

24:52

once this trial ends remind people that

24:54

this is a very in their view a very

24:56

Stark and Clear Choice between Trump and

24:58

Joe Biden and you're seeing that in this

25:00

statement that is just in now from the

25:02

Biden Harris campaign through a

25:03

spokesperson it is not from the

25:05

president or the vice president saying

25:06

that today's verdict does not change the

25:08

fact that the American people face a

25:10

simple reality there is still only one

25:12

way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval

25:14

Office at The Ballot Box It also says

25:16

that Donald Trump has always again from

25:18

the Biden campaign mistakenly believed

25:19

he would never face consequences for

25:21

breaking the law for his own personal

25:23

gain so obviously the legal issues fold

25:25

into what the Biden Campaign Will press

25:27

as a character case against the former

25:29

president uh and the former president

25:31

will use his legal issues not just this

25:33

one but the other ones as well to try to

25:34

make the case that he is the one who is

25:36

a victim well that's what's interesting

25:38

about what Hogan gidley said fair point

25:40

he feels the the the left and the the

25:42

President Biden are going to use this

25:43

politically perhaps they will but

25:45

certainly Donald Trump has used it

25:47

politically to his Advantage I might add

25:51

it he raised

25:52

$360,000 as far as we can tell from

25:54

small donors on day one of this trial

25:56

alone Savannah based on the fundraising

25:58

of appeals and he's got another one out

25:59

tonight from the campaign I'm just going

26:00

to pull it up briefly here where he

26:02

calls himself or the campaign calls him

26:03

a political prisoner it's him with a

26:05

raised fist here I mean it's begun

26:06

already let's go to Kelly O'Donnell NBC

26:08

senior White House correspondent Kelly

26:10

at the white house right now we know the

26:12

president in recent weeks has been a

26:14

little more willing to take Jabs and

26:15

mock Mr Trump we saw the the the the

26:19

Tweet or the ex uh if if you will do we

26:22

expect the president to make remarks

26:25

about healing about the court system

26:27

about all the things surrounding this in

26:30

time that is likely Lester but it is

26:34

just a strange moment of timing that

26:35

today is the 9th anniversary of the

26:37

death of Bo Biden the president's son he

26:40

is away in reoboth with family marking

26:43

that day and the guidance we have had is

26:45

there are no immediate plans for the

26:47

president to speak on this issue there

26:50

is an expectation that the White House

26:52

in the official role separate from the

26:54

campaign would emphasize the importance

26:56

of respecting the rule of Law and

26:59

inevitably the president will be asked

27:01

about the verdicts and what this will

27:04

mean for the election and what it means

27:05

for the country and the historical

27:07

perspective in the days ahead but right

27:10

now he is with family at their home in

27:13

Delaware and focused on uh the loss they

27:16

suffered N9 years ago so the sort of

27:19

strange Twist of history that was such a

27:22

pivotal moment the death of his son in

27:25

encouraging him to run for office in 201

27:28

20 and then on the anniversary of Bo

27:30

Biden's death to have a verdict in the

27:33

New York Trials of Donald Trump is just

27:35

one of those uh strange coincidences uh

27:38

that bring so much of this uh into Focus

27:41

about the larger context so we expect

27:44

that the White House will ultimately

27:45

support the rule of law support the

27:47

jury's verdict at the moment it is the

27:50

campaign that is speaking in terms of

27:52

how they are responding and again

27:54

pointing to November and the choice that

27:55

Americans need to make they have a a

27:58

couple of paragraphs in a statement that

28:00

hie alluded to talking about how this is

28:02

a choice for the American people Kelly

28:04

let me just jump in here for a second

28:06

because I want to get outside to the

28:07

courthouse Tom winter is our NBC News

28:10

producer who was inside the courtroom as

28:13

that verdict was read and he joins us

28:14

now along with our correspondent Laura

28:16

Jarett Tom there is nothing like the

28:18

tension in a courtroom right before a

28:20

verdict is read tell us what it was like

28:23

in there whether the jurors looked at

28:25

the former president and any other uh

28:28

color you can provide from the

28:30

courtroom sure well it was really a 180

28:33

in what occurred in there because the

28:35

judge brought us in first off the

28:36

prosecution just showed up we did not

28:38

hear the Bell it's a 1960s rotary style

28:42

Bell that we typically hear when the

28:44

jury has something to tell the court

28:45

that's what we've been hearing over the

28:47

past day or so uh the prosecution comes

28:49

in all of a sudden Donald Trump and his

28:51

team come in and the judge says look

28:53

it's my intention here to let the jury

28:56

go at 4:30 and all 4:30 comes and goes

28:59

and we're about 5 or 6 minutes past that

29:01

he comes in he says well we received a

29:03

note from the jury at 420 saying they

29:05

have reached a verdict and they want

29:07

about 30 minutes or so more to be able

29:08

to go through the paperwork and go count

29:10

by count and item by item uh at that

29:13

point the mood in the court completely

29:15

changed you could even hear the air

29:17

conditioning system in there over just a

29:19

couple of keyboard Strokes from

29:20

reporters that were in the courtroom

29:22

obviously the tent should build prior to

29:24

that the former president and his

29:26

defense attorney uh were talking as if

29:28

the day was over they were laughing with

29:30

each other covering their mouths so that

29:32

the cameras that are viewed in the

29:33

Overflow courtroom uh weren't seen and

29:36

so the focus was just kind of the day is

29:38

done and immediately the gravity of the

29:40

moment struck everybody in the courtroom

29:42

prosecution and defense and you saw real

29:45

uh change at the defense table

29:47

understanding that this was really it