It finally happened. On May 30, 2024, the news alerts hit every phone in the country at once. A jury in Manhattan did something no jury had ever done before: they convicted a former United States President of felony crimes.
Donald Trump was found guilty on every single count.
But if you look at the headlines, they often get bogged down in dense legal jargon. You'll hear phrases like "falsifying business records in the first degree" or "Section 175.10." It sounds like something from a tax audit. Honestly, it’s a bit dry for a story that involves a porn star, a "catch and kill" tabloid scheme, and a lawyer who went from being a "pitbull" to the prosecution's star witness.
So, let's break down the actual story. What is Trump a convicted felon for? Basically, it’s about a trail of paper that the jury decided was designed to hide a secret from the American voters right before an election.
The 34 Counts: It’s All About the Paperwork
You’ve probably seen the number "34" everywhere. It sounds like a lot of different crimes, doesn't it? In reality, it was 34 instances of the same thing.
The prosecution, led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, argued that Trump falsified 34 specific business records at the Trump Organization. These weren't 34 different plots; they were 34 different documents—checks, invoices, and ledger entries—that all related to one specific goal: paying back his former lawyer, Michael Cohen.
Here is the breakdown of what those 34 counts actually were:
- 11 Invoices from Michael Cohen.
- 11 Checks signed by Trump or from his trust.
- 12 Ledger entries in the Trump Organization's accounting software.
Every time a check was cut to reimburse Cohen for the $130,000 he paid to Stormy Daniels, it generated a new count. The crime was that these payments were labeled as "legal expenses" for a "retainer agreement." The jury agreed with the prosecution that this was a lie. There was no retainer. It was a reimbursement for hush money.
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Why a Felony and Not a Misdemeanor?
This is where things get kinda technical, but it’s the most important part of the case. In New York, falsifying business records is usually just a misdemeanor—basically a slap on the wrist.
To make it a felony, prosecutors have to prove that the records were faked to commit or conceal another crime.
That’s the "booster" that turned this into a felony case. Bragg’s team argued that the "other crime" was a violation of New York Election Law Section 17-152, which makes it a conspiracy to promote a candidate by "unlawful means."
The "unlawful means" in this case?
- Violating federal campaign finance limits (because that $130,000 payment was essentially an illegal campaign contribution).
- Falsifying other records, like those at the National Enquirer’s parent company, AMI.
- Tax violations (since the reimbursement to Cohen was "grossed up" to look like income so he could pay taxes on it, making it look like a legitimate business expense).
The jury didn't even have to agree on which of those three "unlawful means" occurred. They just had to agree that some unlawful means were used to influence the 2016 election.
The "Catch and Kill" Strategy
To understand why the jury felt there was an intent to defraud, you have to look at the testimony of David Pecker, the former CEO of AMI. He described a 2015 meeting at Trump Tower where they hatched a plan to be the "eyes and ears" of the campaign.
They used a "catch and kill" strategy. They would buy the rights to embarrassing stories about Trump and then bury them so they never saw the light of day. This included a $30,000 payment to a Trump Tower doorman with a (fake) story about an out-of-wedlock child and a $150,000 payment to Karen McDougal.
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The Stormy Daniels payment was the one that finally caught up to him because it wasn't handled by a tabloid—it was handled by Cohen, and then reimbursed through Trump's own company while he was sitting in the Oval Office.
What Most People Get Wrong
A common misconception is that Trump was convicted for "hush money."
That’s not true. Paying hush money is actually legal in most cases. You can pay someone to sign an NDA and keep a secret all you want.
What makes Trump a convicted felon is the falsification of the records used to hide that payment. If he had just written a check from his personal account and labeled it "Hush Money to Stormy Daniels," he likely wouldn't have been in that courtroom. The crime was the cover-up, not the payment itself.
Another thing people argue about is the "Fairness" of the trial. Trump’s legal team, led by Todd Blanche, argued that the case was politically motivated and that Michael Cohen was a "serial liar" who couldn't be trusted. They claimed the payments were legitimate legal fees because Cohen was, in fact, a lawyer.
However, the prosecution produced a "smoking gun"—a handwritten note by former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg. The note showed the math for the $130,000, "grossed up" for taxes, and added a $50,000 bonus. It was hard for the jury to see that math and believe it was just a standard legal retainer.
The Sentence: No Jail?
After the conviction, there was a massive debate about what would happen next. Would a former president actually go to Rikers Island?
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On January 10, 2025, Judge Juan Merchan handed down the sentence. He opted for an unconditional discharge.
This means Trump has a permanent felony record, but he won't serve time in prison, he isn't on probation, and he didn't even have to pay a fine. The judge essentially ruled that while the crimes were serious enough for a conviction, the logistical nightmare of jailing a President-elect (at the time) or a sitting President wasn't in the interest of justice.
Why This Still Matters
Even without jail time, the label "convicted felon" is a historical first. It has shifted the legal landscape of American politics forever.
Trump is currently appealing the conviction. His lawyers are arguing that some of the evidence used in the trial should have been protected by "presidential immunity," a concept the Supreme Court expanded in 2024. If the appeals court agrees, the whole verdict could theoretically be tossed out. But for now, the 34 counts stand.
Actionable Insights: How to Track the Case
If you want to keep up with what's actually happening rather than just the social media noise, here’s how to do it:
- Read the Indictment: Don't rely on summaries. The original Manhattan DA indictment is public and clearly lists each of the 34 counts.
- Follow the Appeals: Keep an eye on the New York Appellate Division. That’s where the fight is happening now. If they find that Judge Merchan allowed evidence that violated "official acts" immunity, the case changes.
- Understand State vs. Federal: Remember that this was a state case. Even as President, Trump cannot pardon himself for these specific crimes. Only the Governor of New York (currently Kathy Hochul) has the power to grant clemency for New York state convictions.
- Check the Facts on Voting: Despite being a felon, Trump can still vote. Florida law (where he is registered) defers to the laws of the state where the conviction happened. Since New York only bars felons from voting if they are currently incarcerated, Trump remains eligible to cast his ballot.
The legal journey of Donald Trump is far from over, but the paper trail of 2017 has already made its mark on the history books.