Trump becomes first former president to be convicted of felonies

Former President Donald Trump has been found guilty on all 34 felony counts in his landmark criminal trial. After deliberating over the course of two days, a jury of 12 New Yorkers found Trump guilty of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election. It makes him the first former American president to be found guilty of felony crimes. Trump is set to be sentenced on July 11 — just days before the Republican National Convention.

Trump jury hears re-reading of some testimony, judge’s instructions

Day Two of the Trump trial jury deliberations began with a re-hearing of testimony and the judge’s instructions. At the jury’s request, the judge re-read portions of the instructions that he gave them yesterday. He discussed instructions about reasonable doubt, credibility of witnesses, and making inferences from facts. Court reporters also read aloud portions of testimony from some of the key witnesses. Trump, who is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records, calls this trial a disgrace and political witch hunt.

Who is on the Trump trial jury?

The main jury includes seven men and five women. There are also six alternate jurors who’ve listened to the testimony but won’t join in the deliberations unless one of the main jurors needs to drop out or is removed. Members of the panel come from various professional backgrounds, including a software engineer, a teacher, a speech therapist, multiple lawyers, and an investment banker. Jurors’ names are not being publicly released.

Jury returns for Day 2 of Trump trial deliberations

It’s Day 2 of jury deliberations at the Trump criminal trial. The day will begin with the reading aloud of testimony that was requested by the jury. Jurors also asked the judge if he could go over his instructions to them one more time. Then, deliberations will resume. Donald Trump, who’s required to remain inside the courthouse during deliberations, continues to criticize the trial — claiming the charges against him were rigged and politically motivated.

Agitated Trump calls NY criminal trial a “disgrace”

Donald Trump complained about his trial at the end of the first day of jury deliberations. Following a long day inside a lower Manhattan courthouse, the former president lashed out at prosecutors, saying “nobody knows what the crime is.” He said again it’s “very unfair” that he has to be in court instead of out campaigning.” And he took aim at Judge Juan Marchan, urging him to end the trial and “save his reputation.” The jury, which deliberated about 4-and-a-half hours, will be back in court in the morning.

After 4.5 hours, Trump jury ends first day of deliberations

The Donald Trump jury was dismissed for the day after four-plus hours of deliberations. Jurors in the historic legal case were excused late in the afternoon, ending the first day of deliberations. Before leaving, the jury asked to re-hear certain testimony and the judge’s instructions. That will be provided on Thursday morning when court is back in session. Judge Juan Merchan estimated that the rereading aloud of the requested testimony from former National Enquirer Publisher David Pecker and Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen would take about a half hour.

Trump jury wants to rehear certain testimony and judge’s instructions

The jury in Donald Trump’s criminal case sent notes to the judge asking to rehear testimony and instructions. White House correspondent Greg Clugston reports from New York. After nearly four hours of deliberations, jurors made several requests, including wanting to rehear testimony about a 2015 Trump Tower meeting. That’s where a plan to squelch negative stories about Trump was discussed. The jury specifically asked for testimony from both former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker and former Trump fixer Michael Cohen regarding that Trump Tower meeting. Jurors also wanted to rehear the judge’s instructions which he gave to them on Wednesday morning.

Jury deliberations begin in Trump’s historic criminal trial

The jury has begun deliberations in Donald Trump ‘s historic criminal trial. After weeks of testimony, the case is now being decided by 12 jurors. They began deliberating after Judge Juan Marchan gave them final instructions, including a reminder of their solemn responsibility in deciding Trump’s guilt or innocence. He also reminded the jury of their vow “to set aside any personal bias [they] may have and decide the case “fairly based on the evidence of the law.” The former president, who must remain in the Manhattan courthouse, told reporters that the charges against him were rigged and politically motivated.

Jury deliberations to begin in Trump’s NY criminal trial

Jury deliberations are set to begin in the New York criminal trial of Donald Trump. Prosecutors and defense attorneys presented their closing arguments yesterday and soon the judge will give final instructions to the jury before they begin deliberations. The 12 men and women on the panel will be deciding whether or not the former president is guilty of falsifying business records to cover up payments to hide embarrassing information right before the 2016 presidential election.

Closing arguments in Trump’s NY criminal trial have ended

Closing arguments in Donald Trump ‘s historic criminal trial are over. It was a long day in the Manhattan courtroom. Defense lawyer Todd Blanche spoke for about three hours in the morning, while prosecutor Joshua Steinglass went for over five hours. Trump’s lawyer poked at the credibility of star witness Michael Cohen, describing him as the “MVP of liars.” The prosecution told the jury that the case “at its core, is about a conspiracy and a cover-up.” After final instructions from the judge, jurors are expected to begin deliberating on Wednesday.

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Biden campaign shows up outside Trump’s NY trial

The Biden campaign showed up outside Donald Trump’s criminal trial in New York on the day of closing arguments. Joe Biden’s campaign team has largely ignored the trial, but that changed on Tuesday when the president’s team showed up near the lower Manhattan courthouse with actor Robert De Niro and a pair of former police officers. A top Biden adviser said they weren’t there to talk about the trial, rather to exploit the large media focus on the legal proceedings. But Trump advisers argued that the appearance shows that Trump’s prosecutions are being driven by politics.

Trump’s NY criminal trial heads to closing arguments

Former President Trump’s New York criminal trial is heading for closing arguments. With the testimony phase over, the Trump criminal trial shifts to closing arguments. Starting today, prosecutors and defense lawyers will have their final opportunity to address the jury. After that, it will be up to 12 jurors to decide whether prosecutors have proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump falsified his company’s business records as part of a broader effort to keep embarrassing stories from becoming public during his 2016 presidential campaign.

Independent voters’ views on the economy are turning negative

Independent voters are increasingly unhappy with the economy — and that could affect the presidential race. In the University of Michigan’s monthly consumer sentiment survey, political independents have drifted closer this year to the negative views of the economy held by Republicans. Independents typically occupy the center ground in the closely watched survey. But that’s been changing since January and it’s another indication of the difficulty President Biden faces with votes on the economy ahead of the November election.

Nevada to start tabulating Election Day votes as they come in

A key swing state wants to start tabulating votes sooner on Election Day. Nevada’s secretary of state says election officials can start tabulating in-person Election Day votes as they come in, rather than waiting for polls to close. The recommendation applies to both Nevada’s primary next month and the November general election. Under the plan, no results would be released until after the polls close. The changes could help ease anxiety over close races in a western swing state known for razor-thin margins. In 2022, a U-S Senate race was decided by fewer than 8-thousand votes.

Haley to vote for Trump; Biden campaign still woos Haley voters

Donald Trump has received the backing of a former rival as he runs for the presidency. Former Republican governor and ambassador Nikki Haley broke weeks of silence and announced that she’ll be voting for Trump, even though she described him as “unhinged” during the Republican primaries. She announced her intention last week at the Hudson Institute, a conservative Washington think tank, and encouraged Trump to woo her supporters. Despite Haley’s announcement, the Biden campaign said it would continue to court voters who backed the former GOP governor.

White House seeks help to stop abusive AI practices

The Biden administration is seeking help in cracking down on abusive artificial intelligence practices.
There’s a growing market of abusive sexual images made with AI technology and the Biden administration is pushing the tech industry and financial institutions to shut it down. The White House calls it a “pervasive problem” and is leaning on companies and other organizations to provide meaningful tools that will prevent and mitigate harms. It’s also urging Congress to strengthen legal protections and provide critical resources for survivors and victims of image-based sexual abuse.

Trump woos minority voters in Democrat-heavy New York

Donald Trump rallied voters in one of the country’s most Democratic counties. The former president held a campaign rally for the general public in New York’s South Bronx, as he tries to win more support from Black and Hispanic voters. Trump’s campaign believes he can chip away at President Biden’s support among minority voters, particularly younger men who are frustrated by their economic situations. New York hasn’t voted for a Republican president since Ronald Reagan, but a new Siena College poll shows Joe Biden’s lead over Trump in New York has dropped to single digits.

Biden hosts Kenyan president in state visit, boosts growing partnership

President Biden boosted U-S-Kenya relations with the state visit of Kenya’s president. Joe Biden hosted the first state visit to the U-S by an African leader in more than 15 years and acknowledged a growing security partnership with Kenya. The president defended his decision to provide money, but not American troops, for a multinational force to quell the violence in Haiti. The two leaders also called on the world to help Kenya and other developing nations reduce their enormous debt burden.

Biden hosts Kenyan president for state visit at White House

The president of Kenya is in Washington for an official state visit. President Biden invited President Ruto for a visit to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the U-S and Kenya. And National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says it’s the first state visit by an African head of state in nearly 20 years. He says the state visit underscores the administration’s commitment to Africa, even though President Biden broke a promise to visit the continent last year.

Nikki Haley to vote for Donald Trump for president

Nikki Haley will be voting for Donald Trump in the November election. The former GOP governor and presidential candidate clashed with Trump during primaries and she did not endorse him when she suspended her campaign. But speaking here in Washington, Haley announced that she will be voting for Trump. However, she warned him not to ignore her supporters. Haley said the former president “would be smart to reach out to the millions” of people who supported her candidacy and “not assume that they’re just going to be with him.”

Hunter Biden’s tax trial in California delayed until September

A California judge has agreed to delay Hunter Biden’s tax trial until September. Hunter Biden will stand trial on federal tax charges beginning in early September instead of next month. The judge agreed to push the case back after defense lawyers said they need more time to prepare. Prosecutors opposed the delay request, arguing that the president’s son “is not above the rule of law.” The younger Biden is still scheduled to stand trial next month on federal gun charges in a Delaware case.

White House says Israel taking more “limited” approach in Gaza

The Biden administration says Israel is taking a more limited approach to its military operations in the Gaza city of Rafah. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says Israel appears to have addressed many of the U-S concerns about a full-scale ground invasion of Rafah aimed at Hamas fighters. Sullivan says the administration will continue to closely review Israeli military activity and communicate with Israeli officials.