Honestly, if you've been following the news over the last couple of years, the headlines probably feel like a blur of "historic," "unprecedented," and "legal bombshell." It’s a lot to keep track of. But when people ask was trump convicted of felonies or misdemeanors, they’re usually looking for a straight answer in a sea of political spin.
The short answer? Felonies. Specifically, 34 of them.
On May 30, 2024, a jury in Manhattan delivered a verdict that changed the American political landscape forever. Donald Trump was found guilty on every single count he faced. These weren't just "slap on the wrist" charges; they were Class E felonies, the lowest tier of felony in New York, but felonies nonetheless.
The Core of the Case: Why Felonies?
You might hear some people argue that the whole case was just about "paperwork errors." In a way, they aren't entirely wrong—the charges were for Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree.
Normally, in New York, messing up business records is a misdemeanor (the "Second Degree" version of the crime). It’s basically a minor offense. However, under New York Penal Law § 175.10, that misdemeanor gets bumped up to a felony if the person falsified those records with the intent to commit or conceal another crime.
That "other crime" is where things got complicated. Prosecutors from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office argued that Trump didn't just mislabel payments to his then-lawyer Michael Cohen. They argued he did it to hide a violation of New York Election Law § 17-152—a statute that makes it a conspiracy to promote an election by "unlawful means."
Basically, the jury decided that the $130,000 paid to Stormy Daniels wasn't just a private matter. It was a calculated move to influence the 2016 election, and the subsequent "legal fees" entries in the Trump Organization's books were the cover-up.
🔗 Read more: Recent Obituaries in Charlottesville VA: What Most People Get Wrong
Breaking Down the 34 Counts
It sounds like a massive number, right? 34 separate crimes. But when you look at how the indictment was built, it's actually very repetitive. Each count represented a specific document that the prosecution claimed was a lie.
- 11 Invoices: These were sent by Michael Cohen for "legal services" that the jury found were actually reimbursements for hush money.
- 11 Checks: Each payment Trump (or his trust) signed to pay those invoices.
- 12 Ledger Entries: The internal records at the Trump Organization that categorized these payments as "legal expenses."
Because each check and each invoice is a separate piece of paper, each one became a separate felony count. That’s how you get to 34.
The Misdemeanor Confusion
Why do so many people still ask if it was a misdemeanor?
It’s because of how the law is structured. If the prosecution hadn't been able to prove the intent to hide another crime, Trump might have only been charged with (or convicted of) misdemeanors. During the trial, his defense team fought hard to keep the case in the misdemeanor "lane," arguing that there was no secondary crime and no intent to defraud the voting public.
The jury didn't buy it.
They sat through weeks of testimony from 22 witnesses, including Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels. They looked at the handwritten notes from former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg. In the end, they were convinced that the "legal fees" label was a total sham.
💡 You might also like: Trump New Gun Laws: What Most People Get Wrong
What Happened After the Verdict?
This is where the timeline gets a bit wild. Usually, after a felony conviction, you’d expect a sentence like probation, fines, or even jail time.
Trump’s sentencing was originally scheduled for July 2024. Then it got moved to September. Then November. By the time we hit January 2025, the world looked very different. Trump had won the 2024 election, and being the President-elect complicates a state court’s ability to punish you.
On January 10, 2025, Judge Juan Merchan sentenced Donald Trump to an unconditional discharge.
What does that mean in plain English? It means the convictions stay on his record—he is still a convicted felon—but he doesn't have to serve time, pay a fine, or report to a probation officer. It’s essentially the court acknowledging that while a crime was committed, imposing a traditional sentence on a sitting (or incoming) President is a logistical and constitutional nightmare.
Can These Convictions Be Wiped Away?
Since these are state-level felonies, Trump cannot pardon himself. The U.S. President’s pardon power only applies to federal crimes. If he wants these cleared, he has to win his appeal in the New York court system.
As of early 2026, those appeals are still grinding through the system. His legal team has argued everything from "presidential immunity" (following the Supreme Court's ruling in Trump v. United States) to claims that the trial was politically biased. Until a higher court says otherwise, the 34 felony convictions remain valid.
📖 Related: Why Every Tornado Warning MN Now Live Alert Demands Your Immediate Attention
Why the Distinction Matters
You’ve probably seen the "Felon" labels used in campaign ads or social media debates. In some states, a felony conviction can strip you of the right to vote or own a firearm.
However, Florida law (where Trump is a resident) generally follows the rules of the state where the conviction happened. Since New York only bars felons from voting if they are currently incarcerated, and Trump isn't in jail, he’s still been able to vote.
Wait, what about his job? The U.S. Constitution is pretty specific about who can be President. You have to be a natural-born citizen, at least 35 years old, and have lived in the U.S. for 14 years. It says absolutely nothing about criminal records. That’s why he was able to run and win even while being a "convicted felon."
Actionable Insights: Cutting Through the Noise
If you’re trying to explain this to someone else or just want to keep the facts straight, remember these three things:
- The Label: He was convicted of 34 counts of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, which is a Class E felony in New York.
- The Reasoning: It became a felony because the jury believed the records were faked to hide a conspiracy to illegally influence the 2016 election.
- The Status: Despite the conviction, his sentence was an "unconditional discharge," meaning no jail or fines, though the felony status remains on his record pending appeal.
If you're curious about how this affects other cases, it’s worth noting that this New York case was separate from his federal cases regarding classified documents or election interference. Those have faced their own set of delays and dismissals. For now, the Manhattan case is the only one that resulted in a jury verdict.
To stay on top of the latest legal developments, you can check the official New York Unified Court System for public filings regarding his ongoing appeals.