Trump vows to keep fighting after felony conviction

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Donald Trump continued to slam the guilty verdict in his so-called hush money trial Friday. The former president was convicted of 34 felony charges for falsifying business records to hide hush money payments sent to the adult film star Stormy Daniels who says the two had an affair.

Trump gave a campaign-style speech at Trump Tower saying he will continue to fight.

“We’re going to be appealing this scam,” said Trump.

No longer tethered to a Manhattan courthouse, Trump is using the verdict as new fuel for his presidential campaign. Despite a jury of 12 New Yorkers finding Trump guilty, the former president insists, without basis, that Democrats are behind the effort to derail his 2024 presidential hopes.

“The public understands and they understand what’s going on. This is a scam. This is a rigged trial,” said Trump.

President Joe Biden was critical of Trump’s reaction, speaking from the White House Friday.

“It’s reckless, it’s dangerous, it’s irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they don’t like the verdict,” said President Biden.

Focus now turns to sentencing on July 11, four days before the Republican National Convention is set to begin. Trump is a first time, non-violent, non-drug offender, meaning he may avoid the four years of jail time that could come from a conviction like this. Georgetown Law professor Abbe Smith says there are other elements the judge will consider.

“34 felony counts plus his behavior during the trial in violation of a court order,” said Smith.

Smith added that Trump’s former fixer and star witness for the prosecution Michael Cohen served jail time for crimes related to this case which could factor into Trump’s sentencing. With Trump vowing to appeal, consequences for the former president will likely be delayed.

“Months and months. The appellate process is notoriously slow,” said Smith.

Trump is facing three more criminal indictments in federal and state courts. This New York case still expected to be the only one that will have gone to trial before the general election.

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