Donald Trump has been found guilty on all 34 counts by jurors in his hush money case in New York.

He’s the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes and will be sentenced on July 11.

The jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex.

The verdict Thursday afternoon came after nearly 10 total hours of deliberations, which started Wednesday morning.

Prosecutors accused Trump of trying to “hoodwink” voters in the 2016 presidential election by falsely logging reimbursements to his former lawyer Michael Cohen and porn actor Stormy Daniels as “legal expenses” to hide the true nature of the transactions and stifle embarrassing stories he feared would torpedo his campaign.

Trump’s lawyer, by contrast, branded the star prosecution witness as the “greatest liar of all time” as he proclaimed his client innocent of all charges.

It’s unclear whether prosecutors will seek imprisonment, or if the judge will impose that punishment. The falsifying business records charges carry up to four years behind bars.

Trump faces three other felony indictments, but the New York case may be the only one to reach a conclusion before the November election, in which he’s the presumptive Republican nominee, adding to the significance of the outcome.

In the short term, Trump is free and expected to quickly appeal the verdict.

He spoke briefly outside the courthouse after the verdict was read and declared that it was part of a scheme against him, adding, “I’m a very innocent man.”

The former president could face up to four years in prison, although that’s unlikely, according to Hamline University political science professor and University of Minnesota Law School professor David Schultz.

“Given the fact this is a first offense for him and he has no violent behavior, it’s unlikely he’ll see any time in prison or jail,” said Schultz.

He expects the former president will capitalize on the guilty verdict. After the decision, Trump told reporters, “This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound or hurt an opponent, a political opponent.”

“Trump has been able to use his legal problems very effective to help him,” Schultz said. “It’s possible this guilty verdict could even motivate, motivate Trump supporters.”

He added, “He has incredible loyalty. His issue isn’t with his supporters, his issue is with that very small percentage of undecided or swing voters that are out there.”

The July 11 sentencing will come just days before the Republican National Convention.

“There is no way Donald Trump will not be the Republican nominee for president,” said Steven Schier, an emeritus professor of political science at Carleton College.

For another candidate in another time, a criminal conviction might doom a presidential run, but Trump’s political career has endured through two impeachments, allegations of sexual abuse, investigations into everything from potential ties to Russia to plotting to overturn an election, and personally salacious storylines including the emergence of a recording in which he boasted about grabbing women’s genitals.

Earlier this month, a KSTP/SurveyUSA poll showed that the trial has had basically no impact on the presidential race in Minnesota — 88% of Trump supporters who participated in the survey said they would vote for Trump even if he was found guilty — although it’s unclear if the verdict will cause any change.

“One thing Minnesota Republicans know is the base of their party is really strongly pro-Trump and so it would be very risky for any republican candidate in Minnesota, in the short term, to distance themselves from President Trump based on this court decision,” Schier said.

Our polling also showed among independent voters, 36% would support Trump and another 36% would vote for President Biden.

“This is a close presidential race in the national polls, in the Minnesota polls and the swing state polls,” said Schier. “A conviction like this could really shake up a really close race in ways we cannot predict.”

Congressman Tom Emmer, who is running Trump’s Minnesota campaign, said on X Thursday, “Democrats just pulled off the biggest sham in U.S. history. The American people won’t forget this corrupt, two-tiered system of justice and will issue the real verdict at the ballot box in November.” 

The Minnesota Republican Party is also standing by the former president. Chairman David Hann released the following statement:

“I am deeply disappointed by the verdict in President Donald Trump’s trial. This decision is a significant moment in our nation’s history, and it raises serious concerns about the fairness and impartiality of our judicial system.

“Regardless of status or political affiliation, every citizen deserves a fair trial without bias or political influence. This verdict affects the President and has far-reaching implications for the integrity of our legal and electoral processes.

“Furthermore, this verdict underscores the need for continued vigilance in protecting the rights and freedoms of all Americans. We call on all citizens to join us in advocating for a judicial system free from political manipulation and dedicated to the fair administration of justice.

“We stand with former President Trump and will continue to support efforts to ensure that his and all Americans’ rights are respected and upheld.”

Minnesota Republican Party Chairman David Hann

The Associated Press contributed to this story.