I'm a very innocent man, says Trump

'Real verdict' will be November 5 election

May 31, 2024 02:42 AM

Former president Donald Trump said the "real verdict" would be the US election in November after a New York jury convicted him on all charges in his hush money case on Thursday.

"This was a rigged, disgraceful trial. The real verdict is going to be on November 5, by the people. And they know what happened here, and everybody knows what happened here," Trump said as he left the court.

"I'm a very innocent man, and it's OK. I'm fighting for our country. I'm fighting for our constitution."

A New York jury convicted Donald Trump on all charges in his hush-money case on in a seismic development barely five months ahead of the election where he seeks to recapture the White House.

The verdict makes Trump the first criminally convicted former US president but does not prevent him from campaigning for another term.

Donald Trump's sentencing for falsifying business records will take place on July 11, the judge who presided over the trial said Thursday.

Judge Juan Merchan set sentencing for 10:00 am (1400 GMT) on July 11, just days ahead of the Republican convention where Trump is expected to be named the party's presidential nominee.

The New York judge who presided over Donald Trump's hush money trial thanked the jury for their service and giving the case the "attention it deserved."

"You were engaged in a difficult and stressful task," Judge Juan Merchan said after the jury convicted the former US president of 34 counts of falsifying business records. "You gave this matter the attention it deserved."