It’s been a wild ride. Honestly, if you told someone ten years ago that a former president would be standing in a chilly Manhattan courtroom listening to a jury foreperson say the word "guilty" thirty-four times in a row, they probably wouldn’t have believed you. But here we are in 2026, and that moment is a permanent part of the history books.
So, what has Trump been convicted of, exactly?
There’s a lot of noise out there. Between the cable news shouting matches and the social media memes, the actual legal facts often get buried. Let’s strip away the politics for a second and look at the cold, hard paperwork. On May 30, 2024, Donald Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree.
The 34 Counts Explained (Simply)
People keep asking why there were thirty-four counts. It sounds like a massive list of different crimes, but it’s actually more like thirty-four separate entries in a ledger that the jury decided were fake.
Basically, the prosecution argued that Trump participated in a "catch and kill" scheme to influence the 2016 election. To do this, his then-lawyer Michael Cohen paid $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about an alleged affair. Now, paying hush money isn't necessarily a crime in itself. The problem—and what led to the conviction—was how that money was paid back.
When Trump reimbursed Cohen, the payments were logged as "legal expenses." The jury found that these were not legal expenses at all. They were reimbursements for the hush money. Because these records were "falsified" to hide another crime (violating state election laws), they jumped from misdemeanors to Class E felonies.
📖 Related: Great Barrington MA Tornado: What Really Happened That Memorial Day
Here is the breakdown of what those 34 counts actually were:
- 11 Invoices from Michael Cohen.
- 12 Ledger Entries within the Trump Organization’s internal books.
- 11 Checks signed by Trump or his associates.
Every time a check was signed or an entry was made, it triggered a new count. It’s kinda like if you lied on thirty-four different tax forms; the government doesn't just charge you once for "lying," they charge you for every single form.
The Sentencing: No Jail Time?
You might remember the drama surrounding the sentencing. It was delayed, then delayed again, and then the 2024 election happened.
Eventually, on January 10, 2025—just days before his second inauguration—Judge Juan Merchan handed down a sentence of unconditional discharge.
If you aren't a lawyer, that term sounds a bit weird. It basically means the conviction stays on his record, but there is no jail time, no probation, and no fine. The Supreme Court had to step in just to let the sentencing happen at all, eventually deciding that while presidents have some immunity, the burden of a virtual sentencing hearing was "relatively insubstantial."
👉 See also: Election Where to Watch: How to Find Real-Time Results Without the Chaos
What About the Other Cases?
This is where things get a bit messy. For a while, it looked like Trump was facing a mountain of legal trouble across several states. But as of 2026, the New York case is the only one that resulted in a conviction.
- The Federal Cases: After Trump won the 2024 election, the Department of Justice (DOJ) moved to dismiss the federal cases. This included the classified documents case in Florida and the 2020 election interference case in D.C. Why? Because the DOJ has a long-standing policy that you can't prosecute a sitting president.
- The Georgia Case: This one focused on the "find me 11,780 votes" phone call. It hit a massive snag when the Georgia Court of Appeals disqualified District Attorney Fani Willis in late 2025. It’s pretty much been in a state of legal limbo ever since.
The 2026 Reality: Is He Still a Convicted Felon?
Yes. Despite being the sitting President of the United States, Donald Trump remains a convicted felon in the state of New York.
His legal team has been fighting tooth and nail to overturn it. They filed a massive 96-page appeal in October 2025, arguing everything from judicial bias to "presidential immunity" based on the Supreme Court's 2024 ruling. They basically claim that some of the evidence used in the trial (like his tweets or communications with White House staff) should have been off-limits because they were "official acts."
As of right now, that appeal is still grinding through the New York court system. Until a higher court says otherwise, those 34 guilty verdicts stand.
What Most People Get Wrong
One of the biggest misconceptions is that the conviction "stopped" him from being president. Obviously, that wasn't true. The U.S. Constitution has very few requirements for the presidency: you have to be 35, a natural-born citizen, and have lived here for 14 years. It says absolutely nothing about a criminal record.
✨ Don't miss: Daniel Blank New Castle PA: The Tragic Story and the Name Confusion
Another weird detail? People often confuse the criminal cases with the civil ones. You might remember him being ordered to pay millions to E. Jean Carroll or the massive civil fraud judgment regarding his business valuations. Those were civil trials, not criminal ones. You don't get "convicted" in a civil trial; you are "found liable." Only the Manhattan "hush money" case resulted in a criminal conviction.
Actionable Insights: What This Means for You
Whether you're a fan of the 47th president or his harshest critic, there are a few practical takeaways from this whole saga:
- Check the Source: Legal documents like the "Indictment" or the "Decision and Order" are public record. If you see a claim that sounds wild, go to the New York State Unified Court System website and read the actual filing.
- Understand "Immunity": The legal landscape changed forever with the Trump v. United States ruling. If you follow politics, it’s worth reading a summary of that decision, as it dictates what a president can and cannot be prosecuted for.
- Follow the Appeal: The New York Appellate Division's upcoming ruling will be the next major milestone. If they overturn the conviction, the "convicted felon" label disappears. If they uphold it, it likely heads to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The story isn't over yet, but the 34 counts in Manhattan remain the definitive answer to what Trump has been convicted of. It's a complicated, unprecedented situation that continues to test the boundaries of American law and the presidency.
Stay informed by following court reporters rather than opinion commentators. The nuances of New York Penal Law §175.10 are where the real story lives, not in the headlines.