Criminal trial of Donald Trump in New York

The criminal trial in The People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump was held from April 15 to May 30, 2024. Donald Trump, the 45th, and later 47th president of the United States was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal payments made to the pornographic film actress Stormy Daniels as hush money to buy her silence over a sexual encounter between them; with costs related to the transaction included, the payments totaled $420,000. The Manhattan District Attorney (DA), Alvin Bragg, accused Trump of falsifying these business records with the intent to commit other crimes: violation of federal campaign finance limits, unlawfully influencing the 2016 U.S. presidential election, and tax fraud.

The prosecution argued that Trump's 2016 campaign sought to benefit from the payment of hush money to Daniels through Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen, who was reimbursed via a false retainer agreement. The prosecution rested on May 20, 2024, after calling 20 witnesses. The defense argued that Trump was unaware of any allegedly unlawful scheme, that Cohen was unreliable as a witness, and that the retainer agreement between them was valid. The defense rested on May 21 after calling two witnesses. Throughout proceedings, the defense also made unsuccessful requests for the case to be delayed or dismissed, for the judge to recuse himself, and for removal to federal court.

Trump was convicted on all counts on May 30, 2024, becoming the first U.S. president to be convicted of a felony. Following his victory in the 2024 United States presidential election, his sentencing was temporarily suspended. Trump was sentenced to an unconditional discharge on January 10, 2025.