On May 30, 2024, Donald Trump became the first former U.S. president ever convicted of criminal charges when a jury found him guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. The charges stemmed from a scheme to cover up a $130,000 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to silence her about an alleged 2006 sexual encounter, made just before the 2016 election. The cover-up involved Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen (who served prison time for his role), a 'catch and kill" scheme with the National Enquirer, and systematic falsification of Trump Organization records to disguise the reimbursement payments to Cohen as legal expenses.
Trump was sentenced to an unconditional discharge on January 10, 2025—avoiding jail but retaining 34 felony convictions on his record. He continues to deny wrongdoing and is appealing.