since repeated his claims, without evidence, that the prosecution was politically orchestrated and the trial was rigged. let's look at how we got to thursday's verdict. the trial officially began on april 15, after a lengthyjury 15, after a lengthy jury selection 15, after a lengthyjury selection process. 0ver 15, after a lengthyjury selection process. over the next six weeks, jurors heard testimony from his former business partners including long—time lawyer michael cohen and stormy daniels herself. the jury and stormy daniels herself. the jury of seven men and five women debated for two days, eventually finding him guilty of all 34 felony charges. mr trump is expected back in the courtroom onjuly 11 to be sentenced, he faces up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine for each of those counts. mr trump says he will appeal the verdict, as are north america correspondent reports. this is where it all began ten years ago, and today, donald trump returned here to begin his fightback. scrapping the teleprompter with its scripted remarks, he spent 40 minutes ad—libbing and railing against his opponents, hurling around insults like "fascist" and "sleazebag". it was a rigged trial. we wanted a venue change, where we could have a fair trial. - we didn't get it. we wanted a judge change, i we wanted a judge that wasn't conflicted, and obviously he didn't do that. - nobody's ever seen anything like it. - this is the man donald trump blames for his legal woes, even though it was a jury of donald trump's peers that found him guilty. it's reckless, it's dangerous, it's irresponsible, for anyone to say this is rigged, just because they don't like the verdict. 0urjustice system has endured for nearly 250 years and it's the cornerstone of america. eight years ago, donald trump famously said he could shoot someone right here in the middle of fifth ave and not lose voters. now he really is a criminal, multiple times over, those voters may well get their chance to prove him right or wrong. as commuters arrived for work from republican—leaning staten island, there was plenty of loyalty for the former president. i love trump. why? because he will make america great again. i'm not a fan of him, or biden, but he's very charismatic. - i think people are still going to vote for him, no matter what anyway. according to the trump campaign, more than $34 million was raised from small donors in the hours following the guilty verdict, almost doubling their previous daily record. party leaders were also completely on message. this is a purely political exercise, not a legal one. key figures, like house speaker mikejohnson, said the conviction was absurd and outrageous, and plenty more leading republicans followed suit. donald trump has their complete loyalty. donald trump will undoubtedly appeal against his conviction, but that won't happen for months. before that, he'll be sentenced and will enter the final lap of this presidential election with a criminal conviction around his neck. this is uncharted territory in the 250—year history of this country. gary 0'donoghue, bbc news, new york. joining me, cyrus france, who launched the investigation when you were the district attorney of manhattan. in the end, you chose not to bring charges against the former president. remind us why that was. we launched _ remind us why that was. we launched our— remind us why that was. - launched our investigation and ultimately we did bring charges against the trump organisation. you have to remember this was at a time when covid was very much a sect in new york city and our ability to call witnesses and to have juries. —— very much a factor. but we did ultimately have to go to the supreme court twice, which donald trump opposed when he was president. and ultimately the supreme court ruled in our favour, affirming the rule that not even a president is immune from investigation for misconduct he may have done when he was a private citizen. the supreme court ordered the production of his tax records, which this president uniquely had refused to provide to the public. and ultimately whose organisation was indicted for tax fraud, as well as his chief financial officer. that is the foundation, in one sense, of the indictment subsequently bought by the manhattan d a who succeeded me. iwork bought by the manhattan d a who succeeded me. i work continued until the very end of my term. we were focused on financial investigations. my successor sought to alter the focus of the investigation to the case brought today. i think his trial team did an excellentjob at trial. they were focused, they were experienced and skilful, they were fair and honest. i think the jury understood that and returned unanimous verdicts on the indictment that we received just recently. we indictment that we received just recently.— indictment that we received just recently. we heard from donald trump _ just recently. we heard from donald trump today - just recently. we heard from donald trump today and - just recently. we heard from . donald trump today and several of his backers in the republican party, criticising this case, saying it's politically motivated. saying the charges are weak, and that there was a unique method of turning what is normally a misdemeanour into a felony. what do you say to those criticisms coming from donald trump and his supporters? well, there are many _ trump and his supporters? well, there are many criticisms - there are many criticisms embedded in that type of question, and what i would say is the former president is always a critic of anybody who says anything that he disagrees with. in fact, what i would say is that the investigation into the former president ultimately leads with various chapters until the most recent chapter... it was started by a us attorney under a democratic administration. it was continued by a us attorney in manhattan under the president's administration. 0ur manhattan under the president's administration. our office subsequently continued it in my two administrations, leading to the ultimately green court litigation and indictment. —— the ultimate supreme court litigation. these are people appointed by the president and elected by the public, four prosecutors over six or seven years. i know my prosecutors well, i know who i am, i know who the us attorneys were, and the allegation this was politically motivated is wrong, it is baseless. i think it is easy to say, but without foundation and proof. with all the hyperbole, what i would say, with respect to the former president, is i think this is the one putting politics into the one putting politics into the case, not the prosecutors, who are generally professional lawyers working for a public agency. so it's misguided. donald trump's lawyers have been quick to say they will appeal this verdict. what grounds do you think they might have for an appeal?— have for an appeal? well, i think they _ have for an appeal? well, i think they will _ have for an appeal? well, i think they will appeal- have for an appeal? well, i think they will appeal on i have for an appeal? well, i i think they will appeal on every possible ground, just as they tried to dismiss the case while it was a pending indictment on any possible ground, irrespective of the likelihood of success. but i think there will be constitutional issues that they will appeal on, issues of bias, and the appeal will be a multi—layered rehash of everything the former president has said again and again publicly. the new york law that the judge charged was examined in pre—trial motions carefully. however that's not to say one can predict exactly what an appeals court will do in future. i'm confident this case will be appealed directly to the supreme court. as the former d a, i take nothing for granted in terms of the process. but for the moment, with what has been achieved today, i think it was achieved honestly and fairly by a jury, properly, guarded and charged by a judge... i think it was a fairand by a judge... i think it was a fair and thorough process. we have about — fair and thorough process. we have about 20 seconds, so briefly, how do you think the sentencing might play out? july 11 will be a big day. how ii will be a big day. how likely is it that we could see jail time for donald trump? certainly thejudge has jail time for donald trump? certainly the judge has the power to impose up to four years injail or no jailat all. my personal opinion is it's very unlikely donald trump, as a candidate for the republican party, would be sentenced four days before the public... there will be some other sentence imposed, whether probation or continuance of the sentence until after the election, but i do not think donald trump will go to jail on july 11, my personal opinion. cyrus vance, thank you for your insights. you might be wondering what happens next. 0ur north america correspondent is here to answer your burning questions. thank you for coming in to tackle some of these. the first, can mrtrump in to tackle some of these. the first, can mr trump still run for president as a convicted felon? , , , , , felon? yes, surprisingly he can. felon? yes, surprisingly he can- there _ felon? yes, surprisingly he can. there is _ felon? yes, surprisingly he can. there is nothing - felon? yes, surprisingly he can. there is nothing in - felon? yes, surprisingly he| can. there is nothing in the felon? yes, surprisingly he - can. there is nothing in the us constitution that prevents us citizens with a criminal record or in prison from running for the presidency.— the presidency. the second question. _ the presidency. the second question, what _ the presidency. the second question, what sentence i the presidency. the second i question, what sentence could he face onjuly ii? it’s he face on july 11? it's possible _ he face on july 11? it's possible he _ he face on july 11? it's possible he could i he face on july 11? it's possible he could go i he face on july 11? it'sl possible he could go to he face onjuly 11? it�*s possible he could go to prison, but most legal experts seem to think that a fine might be more likely. it's a low level state crime, he is a first—time offender, all of that will be taken into account. but mr trump did behave pretty badly during the trial. he repeatedly violated a gag order, so perhaps that could affect the judge's decision. we will have to wait forjuly ii. judge's decision. we will have to wait forjuly 11.— to wait forjuly 11. could donald _ to wait forjuly 11. could donald trump - to wait forjuly 11. could donald trump pardon i to wait forjuly 11. could - donald trump pardon himself? no, presidents can only issue pardons for people convicted on federal crimes, this was a state crime. but presidents pardoning themselves, this is all unprecedented, this is uncharted legal territory. so to be honest, it's all a bit of a question mark.— to be honest, it's all a bit of a question mark. thank you. joinin: a question mark. thank you. joining me — a question mark. thank you. joining me to _ a question mark. thank you. joining me to take _ a question mark. thank you. joining me to take a - a question mark. thank you. joining me to take a look- a question mark. thank you. joining me to take a look atl joining me to take a look at the historic nature of this verdict is presidential historian... it's great to have you here, it's only been one day but how do you think history will look back at this moment? the first president to be convicted of a crime?- be convicted of a crime? thank ou for be convicted of a crime? thank you for having _ be convicted of a crime? thank you for having me. _ be convicted of a crime? thank you for having me. i _ be convicted of a crime? thank you for having me. i think- be convicted of a crime? thank you for having me. i think the i you for having me. i think the history books will look at it in two ways. first, it is extremely unusual in american history to say something like this. we've never had a president convicted of a crime, so it is an unprecedented moment. i think the history books will reflect that we have been really lucky as a nation that no president has acted in such a way to be convicted of a crime. that is an exceptional statement. the second pete is worth mentioning, under the rule of law, every citizen is supposed to be treated the same. —— the second pete worth mentioning. that goes for a former president. the fact that the rule of law applies to mr trump as a presidential candidate and the former president means the justice system did not bend to take into account political rhetoric or positions. long term, that will be seen as a strength of the rule of law and the justice system. this the rule of law and the “ustice s stem. �* , the rule of law and the “ustice s stem. a the rule of law and the “ustice sstem. , system. as you said, this has never happened _ system. as you said, this has never happened before. i system. as you said, this has never happened before. are i never happened before. are there any parallels in american history? what about something like the watergate scandal with president richard nixon? i think the watergate scandal's about as close as we can get. of course, richard nixon of course, richard nixon accepted a pardon, which is inherently an acceptance of wrongdoing. basically an acknowledgement that he had done something wrong and accepted the pardon in exchange for basically going away. he did so, and president ford did so, as a way to have a moment of national healing. but of course nixon wasn't charged. so it is a bit of an imperfect parallel. the other parallel people have discussed is eugene dobbs was the candidate for the socialist party in 1920, when he ran from jail, the only other candidate, not that trump will necessarily be in jail, but the only other candidate that has come close.- but the only other candidate that has come close. what sort of mark do _ that has come close. what sort of mark do you _ that has come close. what sort of mark do you think _ that has come close. what sort of mark do you think this i of mark do you think this guilty verdict puts on the office of the presidency itself? i office of the presidency itself? ~ . office of the presidency itself? ~' ., ., itself? i think there are two different ways _ itself? i think there are two different ways to _ itself? i think there are two different ways to look i itself? i think there are two different ways to look at i itself? i think there are two different ways to look at it. | different ways to look at it. one, the mark that if trump loses, he is a former president that has been convicted. therefore he would have among the worst post presidential ten years, perhaps the worst post presidential ten years, perhaszohn tyler competes with him because he sided with the confederacy after his presidency. treason is not great. the other piece thatis is not great. the other piece that is important, if he is re—elected, it is an amazing statement to suggest the american people would elect a felon. and while there is no prohibition against that in the constitution, i think it is fair to say that the founders would be very surprised that thatis would be very surprised that that is something the american people would do. we that is something the american people would do.— people would do. we heard yesterday _ people would do. we heard yesterday both _ people would do. we heard yesterday both donald i people would do. we heard l yesterday both donald trump people would do. we heard i yesterday both donald trump and joe biden essentially saying that, in the end, this is all going to be decided at the ballot box in november. how do you look at the campaign itself? have we ever seen a campaign shaping up like this one in 2024?— campaign shaping up like this one in 2024? ., ., �* ., one in 2024? no, i haven't, and it's almost— one in 2024? no, i haven't, and it's almost impossible _ one in 2024? no, i haven't, and it's almost impossible to - it's almost impossible to predict what is going to happen next. frankly, historians aren't very good at that anyway. but i think it's clear, no matter what happens the next couple of months, it's going to be a very close election. that is true any time you have this kind of intense polarisation. so this moment, if it does have an effect, is going to be one really felt on the margins, and in the middle where voters are undecided or not yet paying attention. that's where we might see some sort of impact of this moment.— of this moment. really interesting _ of this moment. really interesting to - of this moment. really interesting to look i of this moment. really| interesting to look back of this moment. really i interesting to look back at of this moment. really - interesting to look back at the history. doctor, we really appreciate your time. the verdict puts the presidential election into uncharted territory, but opinion polls show it hasn't really move the needle much for the voters themselves. president biden leading donald trump by about 2% according to a national poll carried out just after the conviction. 41% of registered voters said they would vote for biden in november, 39% likely to back donald trump. 0ne november, 39% likely to back donald trump. one in five undecided or considering third—party candidates or they might not vote at all. other polling says swing states have been a bit more favourable to donald trump. one may 13, he was ahead in five of the six major swing states. nevada, arizona, michigan, pennsylvania and georgia, president biden holding a small lead in wisconsin. because of the electoral college, these states will have an outsized influence in the north america elections. nomia iqbal has been speaking to voters in the key swing state of georgia. out in the suburbs of georgia, it is voters who will decide donald trump's fate, notjurors. rachel is an independent voter who leans republican. that's right? really, he's guilty? they found him guilty? guilty on all 34 counts. all 34 counts. donald trump's now been convicted. does that factor in to how you will vote in november? i did not have any idea that he... i honestly did not think he would be convicted. just because, i know that sounds ridiculous, but he's got away with everything else so far! we already knew he was a bit of a liar and a cheat kind of before he got in! it is date night for conservative couple ron and mickey at their local spa. their peace and quiet is momentarily disrupted to take in the verdict. wow. what's your reaction, ron? i'm not surprised at all. because i think that he was guilty as well. but i'm... i'm pleased, yeah. i am. mickey voted for donald trump last time — not this time. i think he's a complete narcissist. i think that he is, it's all about him and he doesn't take the heart of the american people to heart. for moderate republicans, they are still processing this verdict. i'm not 100% there, i'm not. i think that i'm veryi close because i think most americans will vote with their pocketbooks i or their wallets and at this point, i'm a wallet voter. i if donald trump crossed a red line for you, would you vote forjoe biden? no, i would not vote forjoe biden. - i would leave it blank. if he crossed a red line. but polls suggest one in four republicans will still dance to donald trump's tune regardless. how can you back a convicted presidential candidate? well, it's not too hard when you look at who is president now. and, you know, i won't go into any of the things that he does that i haven't been pleased with since the day he took office. but if you look at the lesser of the two evils, i would take trump any day. georgia will get to have a say on donald trump twice — once at the polls in november, and at his election interference trial. the date of that is not yet clear. nomia iqbal