▶ Watch Video: What could Trump’s sentence be after conviction in “hush money” trial? Washington — Former.
Washington — Former President Donald Trump’s historic conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records brought to an end the trial stage of the case stemming from a “hush money” payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016. But it marks the beginning of a potentially lengthy appeals process that could take years to unfold.
A jury of 12 New Yorkers found Trump guilty on all counts, handing down a landmark verdict Wednesday that marks the first time a former U.S. president has been convicted of a crime. The jury deliberated for less than 10 hours after the six-week trial that included testimony from 22 witnesses and saw Trump held in contempt of court for violating a gag order 10 times.
Justice Juan Merchan is set to sentence the former president on July 11, four days before the start of the Republican National Convention where Trump is set to receive the party’s nomination for president. Trump could face up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine for each of the 34 counts, but Merchan has wide discretion in imposing a sentence.
The former president and Todd Blanche, his lead defense attorney, have vowed to challenge the conviction. Under state law, they have 30 days from the date of sentencing to file a written notice of appeal with the New York Supreme Court, and six months to file their full appeal.
“We think an appeal has a lot of merit. We think we’re going to win on appeal,” Blanche told CBS News chief election and campaign correspondent Robert Costa on Friday.
The case brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg was filed in the New York Supreme Court, the trial court. The conviction will be appealed to the Appellate Division, First Judicial Department. After the Appellate Division rules, the losing party can then ask the Court of Appeals, New York’s highest-level court, to review the adverse ruling from the lower court.
In order for the case to land before the U.S. Supreme Court, Trump and his lawyers would have to raise a federal question during the appeals process.
“At the end of the day, a defense lawyer or defense team, after receiving a pretty devastating verdict, guilty on every single count, you will take every possible approach to try to win an appeal,” said Jason Berland, who worked as a prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for eight years.
