Donald Trump claims guilty verdict 'rigged' in post-trial outburst

The jury unanimously found Trump guilty on all 34 counts, making him the first former US president to be convicted of a felony offence.

The trial involved charges that Trump falsified business records to cover up hush money payments to Stormy Daniels, the adult film actor who said she had sex with the married Trump in 2006.

Trump, who pleaded not guilty and denied the affair with Daniels, did not testify during the trial, but outside the courthouse repeatedly claimed the case was “rigged” – charges he reiterated after the verdict today.

”This was a rigged decision right from day one with a conflicted judge who should have never been allowed to try this case,” Trump said.

He said “the real verdict” would come in on November 5 – the date of the upcoming US presidential election for which Trump is the presumed Republican nominee.

He claimed without evidence that the case had been politically motivated.

“This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound or hurt an opponent, a political opponent,” Trump said.

He said he was a “very innocent man” who had “done nothing wrong”.

As he had done in previous speeches outside the courtroom, Trump conflated the legal case with his presidential ambitions, pledging to “keep fighting”.

“We’ll keep fighting, we’ll fight until the end, and we’ll win, because our country’s gone to hell,” he said.

“We don’t have the same country anymore, we have a divided mess.”

“I’m fighting for our country. I’m fighting for our Constitution.”

Trump’s legal team, which moved for an acquittal after the verdict, has indicated it would appeal the result.

The sentencing date has been set for July 11.