Donald Trump has been found guilty of using a criminal hush-money scheme to influence the outcome of the 2016 election.

The verdict came after a jury deliberated for less than twelve hours in the unprecedented first criminal trial against a US president. It marks a perilous political moment for Trump, the presumptive nominee for the Republican nomination, whose poll numbers have remained unchanged throughout the trial but could tank at any moment.

  • SatansMaggotyCumFart
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    1727 months ago

    So the Republican nominee is a thirty-four time convicted felon?

    I guess I can be president too someday.

    • @disguy_ovahea
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      927 months ago

      Convicted felons can run for office. They just can’t vote in the election.

      I desperately want him to lose Florida by one vote. His own.

      • @credo
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        407 months ago

        Florida says he can vote based on the conviction being in NY, and in NY he can vote unless he’s incarcerated.

        • @CptEnder
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          327 months ago

          Which is how it should be in Florida, and everywhere. People shouldn’t continue to be punished after serving their time.

          • @[email protected]
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            267 months ago

            They should be able to vote in jail too. Otherwise an authoritarian could just lock up their political opponents, especially in swing states.

        • @disguy_ovahea
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          117 months ago

          Ah. Bummer. I believe he can only vote in his home state of Florida, but it makes sense that the NY conviction doesn’t restrict his rights in another state. Thanks for the correction.

          • @credo
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            137 months ago

            Here is a better worded article snip from wapo:

            Under Florida law, those convicted of crimes in other states cannot vote if they are barred from voting in the state where they committed their offenses, according to the U.S. Vote Foundation. New York law bars felons from voting while they are incarcerated but not when they are on probation or parole, according to the foundation and Loyola Law School professor Justin Levitt. Trump has not been sentenced yet and could remain free while he appeals his convictions. That means Trump will probably be allowed to cast a ballot as long as he is not behind bars this fall.

      • @Dkarma
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        57 months ago

        What about insurrectionists like Donald trump? 🤔🤔

        • @disguy_ovahea
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          27 months ago

          If he’s convicted of aiding in the insurrection, it would be up to SCOTUS to determine eligibility for reelection based on the treason clause of the Constitution. I wouldn’t hold my breath with that bunch.

    • SolidGrue
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      1 month ago

      deleted by creator

    • @Delusional
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      107 months ago

      Yup you just have to go on TV, act like an asshole constantly, and gain a cult like following from the dumbest Americans imaginable.

    • @platypus_plumba
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      67 months ago

      Could someone explain how it’s possible for him to be running for president?

      Like, are there no laws against this? Is the only requirement for the person to have a pulse?

      • VindictiveJudge
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        157 months ago

        If felonies prevented people from holding government positions just imagine how many bogus charges would be leveled at the GOP’s enemies just to see if anything stuck. Just look at how Russia throws bogus charges at people to prevent them from running against Putin.

      • SatansMaggotyCumFart
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        107 months ago

        The U.S. Constitution states that the president must:

        • Be a natural-born citizen of the United States.
        • Be at least 35 years old.
        • Have been a resident of the United States for 14 years.
        • @FanciestPants
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          57 months ago

          It’s kind of like the scene “there ain’t no rule a dog can’t play basketball” from Air Bud. The constitution has set minimum qualifications to be president, but didn’t bother with the disqualifications because it would be insane to try to conceive of every possible scenario that would disqualify an individual from seeking the presidency.

      • Subverb
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        27 months ago

        There are no laws against it, no.

        In fact he can be president and in prison at the same time, but he won’t get prison time.

      • @[email protected]
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        07 months ago

        The Constitution does not say anything about a criminal record, so, that’s why. But, be real. If all the politicians had their skeletons out on display, literally none of them would be without a criminal record.

        • @platypus_plumba
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          07 months ago

          I don’t know who downvoted you but you’re right. It’s not possible to get there clean.

  • magnetosphere
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    7 months ago

    I’m sure this will be endlessly delayed by every kind of legal maneuver possible, and I personally don’t expect the sentence to include prison time, but I don’t care. The motherfucker has been found GUILTY ON ALL 34 COUNTS. That’s good enough for me.

    • @RedditWanderer
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      7 months ago

      They don’t even have to delay endlessly.

      They just need to say it’s all rigged against him, take the presidency and pardon himself and his cronies.

      His base thinks falsifying records is “smart” and the banks are dumb for falling for it. They still think he’s a stable genius

        • @RedditWanderer
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          507 months ago

          Ha, you say that like laws are gonna matter when he takes office.

      • @cowfodder
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        7 months ago

        President can’t pardon state crimes.

        • DominusOfMegadeus
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          287 months ago

          Not with that attitude. You need the ‘tear down the rule of law from the foundation up’ attitude that Trump has.

        • @Bytemeister
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          37 months ago

          Have you seen the Supreme Court lately?

  • @pdxfed
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    777 months ago

    I trust the tough on crime Republicans will be appalled and change their vote since they’re so against felons being involved in the democratic process–or are those just the darker-skinned ones it applies to?

    • @[email protected]
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      47 months ago

      They think that the woman he cheated on Melania with and the lawyer who facilitated the transaction, along with all of the documented evidence, means that the global conspiracy to keep Trump down is only getting even more sinister.

      Nevermind that he farted himself to sleep during the trial and refused to testify. Those objective facts don’t stand up to the conspiracy theory they’ve created in their echo chamber.

        • @BigBenis
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          37 months ago

          It’s true, when you’re a compulsive liar and you can’t help yourself from spewing hatred and inciting violence, not testifying in a court of law is definitely the right move.

    • Subverb
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      37 months ago

      Nah, they’ve been setting the stage for a year that he’s being railroaded by “crooked joe”. He won’t have lost many votes with his convictions. But some…

  • @[email protected]
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    507 months ago

    From CNN:

    Judge Juan Merchan sets a sentencing hearing for July 11 at 10 a.m. ET

    Seems like a long delay, is that typical in a high profile case like this?

    • @Death_Equity
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      637 months ago

      He has another trial in Florida they had to schedule around.

      • bbbbbbbbbbb
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        227 months ago

        Its weird that thats going on again, what happened to the indefinite suspension?

        • Lemminary
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          107 months ago

          Well, you see, he’s got money and a few like-minded friends…

          • Drusas
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            67 months ago

            He has make believe money in the stock market and properties he doesn’t want to sell but apparently no cash.

            • @[email protected]
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              77 months ago

              He did just sell a jet for $10mil+ to raise money to pay legal fees. It turning out that the sale has some possibly illegal parts so now it’s turning into the latest criming on his docket to deal with, though.

              • @barsquid
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                67 months ago

                He somehow turns every simple interaction into a felony.

              • Lemminary
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                47 months ago

                Holy shit. It’s crime all the way down with this guy, isn’t it.

                • Drusas
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                  27 months ago

                  Always was. Anyone who lived in the New York/New Jersey area in the 80s or 90s remembers.

    • Willie
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      327 months ago

      They requested the delay to July, since he is in court for another case in another area. I suppose it was reasonable to grant it. It’d be unfair for someone to not get their right to a trial, even if they were found guilty of a crime in another area.

      It’d make more sense to keep him in custody in the meantime though. I mean, that’s what they do for normal people. Right?

  • @[email protected]
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    257 months ago

    (Trump’s) poll numbers have remained unchanged throughout the trial but could tank at any moment.

    https://www.npr.org/2024/05/30/nx-s1-4974598/trump-verdict-trial-voters-presidential-election

    NPR polling indicates that only a small percentage of Republicans would be affected by a guilty verdict.

    11 % of independents said they’d be less likely to vote for Trump.

    Small amounts of Republicans would be less likely to vote for Trump with a guilty verdict. I believe that I heard 7% on the radio, but I can’t find a news article to back that up.

    • @[email protected]
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      127 months ago

      I highly doubt any 2024 Republican, let alone 7%, have any actual reservations whatsoever about casting their vote directly for Trump.

      Like: I think I can safely say 7% of Republican voters are obligate grifters and liars too for its worth.

    • @[email protected]
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      67 months ago

      (Trump’s) poll numbers have remained unchanged throughout the trial but could tank at any moment.

      Bold statement!

    • Lemminary
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      47 months ago

      That should cost him a few delegates, hopefully.

    • magnetosphere
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      7 months ago

      Vast amounts of bullshit. From every side.

      Edit: are there people out there who don’t think it’ll be a circus? I agree with the verdict 100%, but let’s not kid ourselves. The next few months are going to be ridiculous.

      • Drusas
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        47 months ago

        This circus has nothing to do with any party other than the Republican party.

        • Tiefling IRL
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          97 months ago

          As a circus performer, don’t drag us down to their level. Most of us are hardcore leftists anyways. We tend to be when our community is literally made up of freaks and outcasts.

        • magnetosphere
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          -17 months ago

          I think they’re mostly the root cause, yeah, but this trial is big enough that there’s an enormous ripple effect.

  • @mlg
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    157 months ago

    This reminds me of that simpsons episode where Sideshow Bob becomes republican mayor via voter fraud.

    Kinda nice to actually see the court and sentencing part happen in real life instead of another dr evil retiring with zero consequences.

    • @krashmo
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      127 months ago

      So far it’s largely just a historical footnote. Wait until sentencing before you get too excited. I’d wager those consequences you speak of are mostly wishful thinking.

  • @Got_Bent
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    77 months ago

    I had to Google this to make sure it was real.

    Now is he gonna be like Bannon and ignore sentencing because there are no consequences for doing so?

    • TragicNotCute
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      7 months ago

      I’m sure he’ll attend because he’s unlikely to do time anyway.

      Six legal experts - including defense lawyers and former prosecutors - told Reuters it was rare for people without criminal histories - like Trump - who are charged solely with falsification of business records to be sentenced to prison time in New York, with punishments such as fines being more common.

      But they said such a sentence would not be impossible, and cautioned that it was too early to predict what punishment Trump could face if convicted.

      https://www.reuters.com/legal/trumps-false-records-charges-prison-is-rare-not-unprecedented-2024-05-30/

      • @davidagain
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        27 months ago

        Cohen did time as a first time convict for pretty much the same stuff, only less so, but no, I don’t think Trump will do time.

  • Rhaedas
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    37 months ago

    Another asterisk to add, or at this point one of those other footnote symbols.

    • Lemminary
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      37 months ago

      We’ll run out of numbers and page room at this rate! We’ll need an encyclopedia worth of books just for the footnotes.

  • @adam_y
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    37 months ago

    And yet he’ll still get votes.

    Whilst I’ve been waiting for this day for ages, it gives me no pleasure to realise it means very little.

  • @Cheems
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    27 months ago
    • giant shocked face *