Donald Trump guilty on all counts in historic criminal trial

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The District Attorney’s Office put in a thorough case that proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Donald Trump engaged in a conspiracy with David Pecker and Michael Cohen and others to promote his election unlawfully with hush money payments and then took steps to cover that up with false records.

The case was deeply corroborated, with testimony not built around one person but with texts and emails and phone records. The prosecution case was methodical, and the jury clearly paid attention.

The defendant did everything he could to undermine the administration of justice, engaged in criminal contempt on ten occasions, and yet the system still gave him a trial that was fundamentally fair.

That is a big win for the prosecution, which brought the case in the name of the People of the State of New York.

Nomia Iqbal and Eva Artesona

Reporting from Cobb County, Georgia

Dante Sellers and Maquita Eaton stop to talk to us here in Marietta City, in Cobb County, Georgia.

"I saw the verdict, and honestly it is pretty shocking that a president has been convicted," Dante says. "It’s historic."

Georgia is a swing state where surveys suggest there are up to 18% of voters who don’t lean Democrat or Republican. President Joe Biden won the southern state narrowly in 2020, but Donald Trump has his sights set on winning it in 2024. Dante thinks those uncommitted voters could be crucial.

"There will be people who will look at a ballot and say 'Can we vote for a convicted felon?' It'll be a big issue for independent voters. It doesn't change anything for me - I was going to vote for Trump anyway," he adds.

"I do think the people who support Trump will still back him regardless," Maquita says.

A third of Georgians are black - and both Biden and Trump have been campaigning hard for their votes.

"It’s upsetting that the matters of black people only matter at election time rather than all the time," Maquita says.

The Secret Service, which is charged with protecting current and former presidents of the United States, has put out a very short statement:

"Today’s outcome has no bearing on the manner in which the United States Secret Service carries out its protective mission," it reads.

"Our security measures will proceed unchanged."

According to CBS News, the BBC's media partner, security officials are monitoring the threat environment, and are prepared to bolster forces if needed.

But at this time, there are no specific or credible threats, and the security level around Donald Trump remains unchanged.

Diane Kiesel, a retired New York Supreme Court judge has said that now "the judge’s work begins".

"Sentencing is the most daunting and difficult decision for any judge - especially here when the entire world will be watching," Kiesel said in a statement.

The former justice also praised the jury, who "worked diligently over many hours to carefully review the evidence and reached an historic verdict based on that evidence."

Donald Trump's digital fundraising system had a record number of supporters following the guilty verdict on Thursday afternoon, according to Trump campaign senior advisor Brian Hughes.

The increase in traffic caused intermittent delays, he added.

I just heard from a source on the Biden campaign, who said that whether or not Donald Trump is a convicted felon, they believe the only way to beat him is at the ballot box - and they reinforce that the Biden camp has always felt they can do that.

This verdict appears to increase the Biden team’s confidence of securing a victory in November.

I’ve also been in touch with several people close to Trump who say they are not surprised by the verdict and they believe this will be overturned on appeal.

One Trump ally just texted me "#neverboring".

If you've been following our live coverage, you'll know that Kayla Epstein, along with Madeline Halpert, have been in court nearly every day of this trial.

Here, Kayla describes the moment Donald Trump was found guilty on all charges.

Democratic lawmakers and some of Donald Trump's staunchest critics have taken to X, formerly Twitter, to respond to Trump's guilty verdict. They are reiterating claims that "justice has prevailed".

"Today, twelve ordinary American citizens found a former president guilty of dozens of felonies. Despite his efforts to distract, delay, and deny – justice arrived for Donald Trump all the same. And the rule of law prevailed," California Rep. Adam Schiff wrote.

Schiff served on the House select committee to investigate the 6 January 2021 attack on the US Capitol.

"The jury has spoken. Justice has prevailed," Rep. Jim Clyburn, a Democrat from South Carolina, tweeted.

Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, called it "an important moment for accountability in America".

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat from Rhode Island, simply tweeted: "Boom".

Donald Trump's allies have starting lining up (virtually) to decry the ruling, echoing the Republican's comments that the Manhattan case was a politically-motivated witch hunt.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia blasted the "SHAM trial" on X.

"You don't see this level of corruption in a banana republic", she wrote, directing people to a Trump fundraiser.

Another Trump ally, Matt Gaetz, agreed, writing on X: "This verdict is the corrupt result if a corrupt trial, a corrupt judge, and a corrupt DA. We stand with President Trump now more than ever."

And the former president also received support from the highest-ranking Republican in the US government, House Speaker Mike Johnson.

"Today is a shameful day in American history," he wrote. "President Trump will rightfully appeal this absurd verdict - and he WILL WIN."

Georgia is an important swing state that President Biden won in 2020 - the first time for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1982.

It also delivered him two Senate victories. Currently polls suggest Donald Trump is ahead. Does his conviction change things?

Rachel Rice is an army veteran here in Cobb County - and is stunned at the verdict as she reads the news on her phone:

“Wow he’s guilty.. I did not expect him to be convicted! Woah! He’ll want to win now!" she tells me.

She voted for Trump in 2020 over what she described as his stance on “no more foreign wars”, but describes herself now as an independent voter.

“I do not know. I felt this trial was political and I wasn’t sure about Michael Cohen’s credibility. I think it feels unfair.”

I ask her if the unanimous conviction changes anything? “Hmm. Who else would I vote for? I was interested in RFK. And I wasn’t going to vote for Biden because of his age. Also I’m pro-Israel but it’s now upsetting me," she replies.

“Honestly if Trump had been convicted of something serious - like the election interference charges it’d be different. I was really angry about that.”

She goes through the charges again on her phone.

“We already knew he was a bit of a liar and a cheat. I knew who he was,” she laughs.

I suggest it doesn’t seem to have put her off?

“But yeah, I’m just unsure. I’m shocked he has been convicted.”

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has issued a statement praising the verdict and telling residents that law enforcement is closely monitoring public safety.

"Today's verdict reaffirms that no one is above the law," said the Democrat.

Hochul said that ahead of the verdict, she had directed state law enforcement to work closely with federal officials, and that they will continue to "monitor the situation".

"We are committed to protecting the safety of all New Yorkers and the integrity of our judicial system," she added.

Trump's former fixer Michael Cohen - who testified during the trial - responded to Trump's guilty verdict in a post on X, formerly Twitter, thanking his lawyers for their guidance and calling it "an important day for accountability and the rule of law".

"While it has been a difficult journey for me and my family, the truth always matters," he wrote.

One reporter asked Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg about criticisms over whether this was a viable case to bring in the first place.

Bragg responded: "So my response again is I did my job. And I think particularly I talked about this history of the office, my personal history - I started as a prosecutor in 2003 in the Public Integrity Unit the New York State Attorney General's office. I served also in the Public Integrity Unit in the Southern District of New York."

"These are the kind of cases I've done personally, and it's a hallmark of the tradition of this office that I'm proud to lead," he said.

"Most importantly, today we had the most important voice of all, and that's the voice of the jurors. They have spoken. Donald J Trump has been convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records."

Before finishing, Alvin Bragg answered some questions.

He was asked how he felt after the guilty verdict.

Bragg referenced prosecutor Joshua Steinglass standing behind him. Steinglass delivered the hours-long closing argument against Donald Trump on behalf of the District Attorney.

"You heard him speak a little bit the other day," Bragg says of Steinglass, a joke about the lengthy arguments that is met with laughter in the room. (Court didn't finish until 20:00 local time because of that lengthy closing argument).

Bragg says he feels "enormous gratitude", again thanking the jury and praising a "phenomenal" justice system.

The press conference is over, but stick with us. We have a few more quotes from Alving Bragg to bring you.

When asked if he would pursue a prison sentence for Trump, Alvin Bragg declined to say.

"The judge has scheduled a sentencing for July 11, we will speak in court in that time," he says.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg says that while the defendant - a former president - was like no other in American history, he and his team treated this case the same way they would any other.

"By following the facts and the law and doing so without fear or favour," he says.

Alvin Bragg continues to speak about the significance of the verdict.

But he notes: "this type of white collar prosecution is core to what we do at the Manhttan District Attorney's office".

"I want to thank this phenomenal prosecution team," he says.

Bragg adds that the embody "the finest traditions of this office - professionalism, integrity, dedication and service. They are model public servants and I am proud and humbled to serve side by side with them."

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg begins his remarks by thanking the jury, "12 every day New Yorkers" who fulfilled their "fundamental civic duty".

"Their service is literally a cornerstone of our judicial system," he says.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has started his press conference after a historic guilty verdict was reached against Donald Trump.

You can watch it live by pressing the play button at the top of this page.

And we will also be bringing you text updates.