Former President Donald Trump's historic criminal case, at a glance
Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits in the courtroom during his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 21. Credit: Getty Images/Michael M. Santiago
Donald Trump became the first former American president convicted of criminal charges when a Manhattan jury found him guilty of fudging business records to hide a decades-old sexual encounter with an adult film actress from the voting public ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
Trump, 77, now both a felon and the Republican Party's presumptive nominee for president in November, faces up to four years in prison at sentencing. Trump, the first ex-president or president to go on trial on criminal charges, is expected to appeal.
Here are some key developments related to the case.
A timeline of Donald Trump's historic criminal case
Some key developments in the former president's hush money case.
May 30, 2024
Trump convicted
A Manhattan jury finds Trump guilty of fudging business records to hide a decades-old sexual encounter with an adult film actress from the voting public ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
The jury found the ex-president guilty in what prosecutors said was a scheme to subvert the will of the American people after about 12 hours of deliberations.
The jury foreman announced the verdict to a packed courtroom that included Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Trump’s middle son, Eric Trump.
“Guilty,” the jury foreman repeated 34 times, in response to each count charged.
May 29, 2024
Case goes to the jury
Jury begins deliberations.
May 28, 2024
Closing arguments
Defense and prosecutors deliver closing arguments.
May 22, 2024
Defense rests
The defense rests its case after calling two witnesses, including Nassau County lawyer Robert Costello, to elicit testimony that Cohen was never threatened not to cooperate with authorities. Trump doesn't take the stand.
May 21, 2024
Prosecution rests
The prosecutors rest their case, leaving the question remaining of whether Trump will take the stand during the defense case.
May 16, 2024
Focus on call to bodyguard
Defense lawyers zero in on a call that Cohen says he had with Keith Schiller, the former president’s bodyguard. They show text messages from the disbarred lawyer to Schiller complaining about a 14-year-old making prank calls on Cohen’s phone.
May 14, 2024
Cohen's cross-examination
On cross-examination, Cohen’s credibility takes a few hits. He admits to making negative statements about Trump recently and harboring a grudge. Cohen talks about how he ultimately split with Trump after he was charged with campaign finance violations, tax fraud and lying to Congress.
May 13, 2024
Cohen takes the stand
Michael Cohen, the prosecution’s main witness, is called to the stand. Cohen talks about the heady early days of working with the former president and how much he admired him. The former fixer corroborated much of Pecker and Davidson’s story.
May 7, 2024
Stormy testifies
Stormy Daniels takes the stand and tells her story about the Tahoe golf tournament where she met Trump and he invited her back to his hotel room. She details the conversation and the sex that she says they had. The defense lawyers requests a mistrial, calling the testimony “highly prejudicial.” The request is denied.
Stormy Daniels Credit: AP Photo
May 6, 2024
Judge fines Trump again
The judge fines Trump once again for social media posts and public comments he’s made about the jury, this time only $1,000. He warns the former president jail is possible if he violates the gag order again.
May 3, 2024
The Access Hollywood recording
Former White House aide Hope Hicks takes the stand to tell the jury about the reaction to the infamous "Access Hollywood" recording in which Trump is heard talking about grabbing women. The presidential campaign tried to minimize the impact on the election, which Hicks said was immense. The GOP considered arranging another candidate despite the fact that it happened shortly before the election.
Hope Hicks. Credit: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
May 2, 2024
Testimony over hush payments
Keith Davidson, a Los Angeles-based lawyer who once represented McDougal and Daniels, testifies that he helped the women haggle with Cohen and Pecker over the amount of money they would be paid for their silence. He bolsters Pecker’s testimony.
Karen McDougal Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris
April 30, 2024
Judge fines Trump
Trump held in contempt. Merchan fines the former president $9,000 for violating the gag order and warns him that he could be jailed if he continues to attack witnesses or the jury on social media. There are other statements that prosecutors have brought to the judge’s attention that he did not rule on.
April 24, 2024
Contempt hearing
Merchan holds a contempt hearing after receiving a motion from prosecutors outlining nearly a dozen social media messages and public statements by Trump attacking the jury, Cohen and Daniels.
April 23, 2024
'Catch and kill' stories
American Media Inc. ex-publisher and CEO David Pecker takes the stand to testify about a 2015 meeting between Trump, Cohen and himself agreeing to “catch and kill” any negative stories and promote positive stories.
David Pecker Credit: Marion Curtis
April 22, 2024
Opening arguments
The prosecutor Matthew Colangelo gives his opening arguments, calling the conspiracy to cover up Trump’s alleged affair with Daniels and the subsequent reimbursements that were identified as a legal retainer for Cohen “election fraud, pure and simple.” Defense lawyer Todd Blanche says his client is “cloaked in innocence,” adding, “There’s nothing wrong with trying to influence an election. It’s called democracy.”
April 15, 2024
Trial begins
The trial starts. In the first week prosecutors and defense attorneys battle over who should remain on the jury and who should be excused. After a week, 12 jurors — five women and seven men — and six alternate jurors are selected.
March 26, 2024
Justice issues gag order
Merchan issues a gag order on the trial that restricts Trump from making public comments about witnesses, potential jurors, Manhattan district attorney and court staff, family members of the staff and prosecutors. The judge does not include himself or Bragg in the protected group.
April 4, 2023
Trump pleads not guilty
Trump is arraigned, pleads not guilty and vows to fight the charges, calls presiding judge, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, a “Trump-hating judge” in the first of many swipes at the judge.
March 31, 2023
Grand jury indicts Trump
A Manhattan grand jury indicts former President Donald Trump, the first former president to be charged with a felony in U.S. history, on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to the reimbursements to Cohen for paying off Daniels. Trump calls Bragg "racist" and says the indictment represents “the greatest witch hunt in history.”
Jan. 23, 2023
DA impanels grand jury
Bragg impanels another grand jury to hear evidence surrounding the payments to Daniels and McDougal.
Feb. 22, 2022
Former prosecutor quits
Marc Pomerantz, the former federal prosecutor hired by Vance to lead the investigation, quits the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office after Bragg decides not to move forward with the case.
Nov. 2, 2021
New DA elected
With the investigation still open, Vance decides not to run again. Alvin Bragg is elected the new Manhattan district attorney.
Aug. 1, 2019
DA subpoenas Trump Organization
Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance subpoenas the Trump Organization for records related to payments to Daniels and McDougal.
Aug. 21, 2018
Cohen pleads guilty
Former President Donald Trump's ex-lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen pleads guilty in Manhattan federal court to campaign finance violations related to $130,000 of hush money he paid to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and $150,000 he paid to former Playboy model Karen McDougal to keep alleged sex encounters between the women and Trump secret ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
Michael Cohen Credit: AP Photo/Seth Wenig