Bragg Won’t Reveal Whether Prosecutors Will Seek Trump Prison Sentence

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg at the Louis J. Lefkowitz State Office Building, in New York City, on March 21, 2024. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg declined to reveal whether prosecutors will seek a prison sentence for former President Donald Trump after a guilty verdict was returned on May 30.

“While this defendant may be unlike any other in American history, we arrived today at this trial and ultimately this verdict in the same manner as every other case that comes through the courtroom doors,” he said at a press conference held hours after jurors convicted the former president.

Mr. Bragg declined to answer questions related to sentencing, saying only that they would present their arguments to the court through motions and at the hearing.

“I did my job. Our job is to follow the facts without fear or favor,” Mr. Bragg said in response to another question. “What I feel is gratitude to be able to work alongside phenomenal public servants who do that each and every day.”

“I did my job, we did our job,” he said. “Many voices out there; the only voice that matters is the voice of the jury, and the jury has spoken.”

On the second day of deliberations, 12 jurors returned the unanimous verdict on 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, a class E felony that can result in a fine, jail time, or probation.

Sentencing is not up to the jury, but the judge. New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan has scheduled the sentencing hearing for July 11, and given the parties a June 13 deadline to file motions.

Each charge carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison, but state law limits the total maximum sentence to 20 years. Trump attorneys had vowed a swift appeal should there be a conviction.

Meanwhile, a gag order still prohibits President Trump from speaking about parties and testimonies in the case, and defense attorneys have appealed the order to the state’s top court.

Trump Speaks Out

President Trump was stoic as jurors returned the guilty verdict, and his attorneys moved for judgment immediately after.

“We’re moving for judgment,” said defense attorney Todd Blanche. “There’s no basis and there’s no way this jury could have reached a verdict without accepting the testimony of Mr. Cohen.”

“There is no evidence that had any connection to the charged offense and President Trump, and the only connection is Michael Cohen,” he said.

Justice Merchan swiftly denied the motion.

Outside the courtroom, President Trump claimed innocence.

“This was a rigged, disgraceful trial. The real verdict is going to be November 5 by the people and they know what happened here and everyone knows what happened here,” he said.

“We didn’t do a thing wrong,” he said. “I’m a very innocent man.”

“And it’s OK. I’m fighting for our country, I’m fighting for our Constitution,” he said.

Michael Washburn contributed to this report.