Yes. Donald Trump has been convicted of a felony. 34 of them, to be exact.
It feels like a lifetime ago because the news cycle moves at a breakneck pace, but on May 30, 2024, a Manhattan jury found the former (and now current) president guilty on every single count he faced. This wasn't some minor slap on the wrist. We are talking about 34 Class E felonies for falsifying business records in the first degree.
Honestly, the details are kinda messy. It all traced back to $130,000 paid to Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about a 2006 encounter. The "crime" wasn't the payment itself—it was how the reimbursement to Michael Cohen was logged in the Trump Organization's books. They called it "legal expenses." The jury called it a felony.
The Verdict That Made History
When the foreperson read "guilty" 34 times, the air in that wood-paneled courtroom reportedly went thin. It was a massive first. No U.S. president had ever been a convicted felon.
People expected the sky to fall. Or at least for his 2024 campaign to hit a brick wall. Neither happened. Trump leaned into the "convicted" label, using it to fuel his "political witch hunt" narrative. By the time he was sworn in for his second term on January 20, 2025, the legal landscape had shifted so much it was hard to keep track.
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Wait, Did He Actually Go to Jail?
Nope. Not even close.
Sentencing was a total rollercoaster. It got pushed back multiple times because of the Supreme Court's landmark ruling on presidential immunity. Basically, the highest court in the land said presidents have broad immunity for "official acts." Trump’s lawyers argued the New York case was tainted because some of the evidence—like tweets and conversations with White House staffers—fell under that "official" umbrella.
Finally, on January 10, 2025—just ten days before his inauguration—Justice Juan Merchan handed down the sentence. He didn't give Trump prison time. He didn't even give him probation or a fine. He gave him an unconditional discharge.
What does that mean?
In plain English: You’re guilty, the conviction stays on your record, but you don’t have to do any time or pay any money.
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Why the Conviction Still Matters in 2026
Even though he's sitting in the Oval Office right now, that "felon" tag hasn't disappeared. It’s a permanent part of his biography.
There’s a lot of confusion about what this means for his power. Can a felon be president? Clearly, yes. The Constitution doesn't say you can't. Can he pardon himself? Here's the kicker: No. The New York case was a state-level conviction. Presidential pardons only work for federal crimes. Unless the New York Governor steps in (unlikely) or the conviction is overturned on appeal, it sticks.
The legal battle is currently playing out in the Second Circuit and likely heading back to the Supreme Court. His team is trying to get the whole thing tossed by moving it to federal court, arguing that a state shouldn't be able to "harass" a sitting president with a criminal record.
The Other Cases: Where Did They Go?
If you're wondering about the other three indictments—the classified documents in Florida, the federal election interference case, and the Georgia racketeering charges—they've mostly vanished.
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- The Federal Cases: Once Trump won the 2024 election, Special Counsel Jack Smith began winding things down. Department of Justice policy basically says you can't prosecute a sitting president. The cases were dismissed without prejudice in late 2024.
- The Georgia Case: This one got bogged down in a mess of drama involving the DA, Fani Willis. Eventually, a new prosecutor took over and dropped the charges in late 2025, citing the "insurmountable" challenge of prosecuting a sitting president under the new immunity guidelines.
So, the New York "hush money" case is the only one that actually made it to the finish line.
Actionable Insights: How to Track the Appeal
If you're trying to keep up with whether the conviction will actually be erased, here’s what to look for in the coming months:
- The Second Circuit Ruling: Watch for a decision on whether the case can be moved to federal court post-conviction. If Trump wins here, the conviction could be vacated.
- The "Official Acts" Argument: The courts are still debating if testimony from people like Hope Hicks should have been allowed. If the appeals court decides that evidence was "immune," they might order a whole new trial—which won't happen while he's in office.
- 2026 Midterm Impact: Keep an eye on how this record is used in the upcoming elections. It’s no longer a hypothetical; voters are now deciding how much they care about a "felon" commander-in-chief.
Check the New York Unified Court System website or SCOTUSblog for the most direct, non-partisan updates on the specific filing statuses of his appeals.