Two years ago, on May 30, a New York jury found President Donald Trump guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.
At the time, he was the presumptive Republican candidate for the 2024 presidential election and the first former president to be convicted of a crime. Months later, his victory over former Vice President Kamala Harris would be seen as a surprising political comeback.
The hush money criminal case was one of several legal battles Mr. Trump fought in the years between his two terms, and the impact of those cases was largely washed away with his reelection.
Since Mr. Trump returned to office, the Justice Department has targeted people involved in past cases against Mr. Trump, including former FBI Director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and, most recently, groups connected to E. Jean Carroll’s sexual abuse lawsuit against Mr. Trump.
But is Trump’s conviction gone? Here’s what you need to know:
What crime was Mr. Trump charged with?
Trump was indicted in four cases, but only one went to trial and resulted in a conviction.
In the New York case that led to his conviction, Trump was charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records. Prosecutors have alleged that President Trump disguised a refund of $130,000 in hush money he paid to porn star Stormy Daniels as legal fees ahead of the 2016 election.
In two federal lawsuits that were dismissed after his reelection, Trump was charged with conspiring to overturn the 2020 election and mishandling classified documents after leaving the White House. Both charges were dropped and special prosecutor Jack Smith resigned.
Trump was also indicted in the Georgia election fraud case. The case was dismissed in November 2025. Fani Willis, the Fulton County district attorney who brought the charges, was disqualified because she had a romantic relationship with the special prosecutor in the case.
Was Trump convicted of a crime?
Trump’s criminal conviction in the hush money case was handed down on January 10, 2025. Trump was sentenced to “unconditional release,” meaning he will receive no jail time or probation.
Presiding Judge Juan Melchán wished President Trump “God speed” for his second term as president.
You can listen to a recording of the judgment here.
Yes, but calling someone a “felon” is considered an outdated term. President Trump’s felony conviction has not yet been expunged by appeal or reversal.
Did President Trump appeal his 34 felonies?
yes.
In October, Trump filed a motion with the New York Court of Appeals arguing that the case was based on “fatal flaws” and that some evidence should have been excluded because of immunity he received during his first term as president.
Contributions: Josh Meyer, Bart Jansen, Aysha Bagchi, Sarah D. Wire, USA TODAY
Kinsey Crowley is a Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Please contact KCrowley@usatodayco.com. follow her X (Twitter), thread, blue sky and TikTok.
