Judge Clears Courtroom in Trump Hush Money Trial

This morning, at Trump Tower, Donald Trump denounced the historic guilty verdict in his criminal hush money trial. He also vowed to appeal his conviction in remarks that were filled with false claims about Judge Juan Merchan, President Biden, New York City's crime rates and other topics. New York criminal defense attorney Arthur Aidala and former Manhattan Chief Assistant District Attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo share what might be next for the now-convicted former president. Plus, today President Biden announced Israel has submitted a three-phase proposal to wind down the war with Hamas. The proposal would include the release of hostages, and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from "all populated areas of Gaza" and eventually lead to a "full and complete ceasefire." The proposal closely matches a deal Hamas itself recently offered. Barak Ravid, political and foreign policy reporter for Axios, talks about how realistic this potential deal might be.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former President Donald Trump is now a convicted felon after a jury of 12 found him guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in his hush money criminal trial. Anderson gets reaction to the historic verdict from presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, journalist Ronan Farrow, who is the author of the 2019 best-selling book "Catch and Kill," and New York Times senior political correspondent Maggie Haberman who was in the courtroom when the verdict was read. Also joining AC360 tonight, legendary investigative reporters, best-selling authors, and eyewitnesses to more than five decades of American history - Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jury deliberations have begun in the former president's criminal hush money trial and the jurors have some questions. The jury sent two notes to Judge Juan Merchan this afternoon. In one, they asked to rehear testimony from David Pecker and Michael Cohen. In the other, they asked to rehear the judge's jury instructions. The Washington Post’s Philip Bump, who served as a juror in the high-profile 2009 New York trial of socialite Brook Astor's son, who was convicted of bilking her out of millions of dollars, and jury consultant Alan Tuerkheimer talk about what it's like to be part of a jury and what they can gleam from the deliberations so far. Plus, just over a week ago, Nikki Haley revealed she plans to vote for former President Trump in November. She urged him to reach out to her supporters and not take their votes for granted. In tonight's installment of John King's "All Over the Map" series, he heads to Pennsylvania to speak to Haley supporters about who they'll vote for this fall.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Closing arguments in the former president's historic criminal hush money trial wrapped up in a lower Manhattan courtroom tonight. The prosecution told jurors they’ve seen a “mountain of evidence” to prove that Donald Trump falsified business records in order to cover up a damaging story involving an alleged affair with adult film star Stormy Daniels at the end of the 2016 election. On the other side, Trump's team told the jury that this whole case relies on the testimony of his former fixer Michael Cohen, who according to them is the "MVP of liars" and is out to get Trump. Wednesday morning, after hearing instructions from Judge Juan Merchan, jurors will have the case and the former President's fate in their hands. Tonight, Anderson spoke with Michael Cohen's attorney Danya Perry and Stormy Daniels' attorney Clark Brewster to get their thoughts on closing arguments and how they think jury deliberations will go.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The judge in the former president's criminal hush money trial case has issued the final jury instructions to the prosecution and defense teams. The instructions are not expected to be released publicly before closing arguments, which are scheduled for Tuesday. Former federal prosecutor Temidayo Aganga-Williams and former New York state supreme court justice Jill Konviser discuss what might be included in the jury instructions. Plus, today marks two years since 19 students were killed in the shooting at Robb Elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Shimon Prokupecz went back to Uvalde to speak with some of the survivors.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tonight former President Trump held a campaign rally in the Bronx, a largely Hispanic and Black area of New York City. President Biden won the county, a Democratic stronghold, by about 68 points four years ago. But as Mr. Trump seeks reelection in November, he’s trying to reach out to those voters. Anderson talks about the campaign’s efforts with former Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Republican strategist Shermichael Singleton. Plus, it's been nearly 19 years since Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orleans and parts of Mississippi, killing more nearly 1,400 people. A mother and her twin baby boys survived the hurricane but were struggling with dehydration and starvation when Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honoré stepped in to help. Stephanie Elam shows us how those twins, who just graduated from high school, are thanking Honoré. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A shouting match broke out today between attorneys during pre-trial proceedings in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case. The disagreement was over a long-disputed 2022 meeting between a prosecutor and an attorney for former President Trump’s personal aide Walt Nauta. Plus, Judge Aileen Cannon seemed skeptical of arguments to dismiss charges against Trump and his co-defendants. But, she has yet to rule on the motions she considered on Wednesday. Former Trump White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci and former U.S. District Court Judge Shira Scheindlin talk to Anderson about the case. Also, in a 360° exclusive, CNN’s Elizabeth Wagmeister talks to a woman who alleges Harvey Weinstein assaulted her nearly a decade ago. The woman also says she was the target of a "catch-and-kill" effort by the National Enquirer, similar to what's been described in the former president's hush money trial.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Trump defense rested today in the criminal hush money trial without calling the former president to the witness stand after he said at one point that he'd testify. The trial is adjourned until next Tuesday when closing arguments are expected. CNN legal commentator Robert Ray, counsel to former President Trump in his first impeachment trial, and former New York Supreme Court judge Diane Kiesel break down what happens next. Plus, a video was posted on the former president’s Truth Social account Monday that included images of a fake newspaper article that contained the words "unified Reich." The video was removed from his account Tuesday morning, and a Trump campaign spokesperson said in a statement that the video was not created by the campaign and was “reposted by a staffer who clearly did not see the word, while the president was in court.” CNN political commentators Van Jones and Alyssa Farah Griffin talk about how something like this happens and why it took so long to take it down.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There was high drama and tension in the former president's hush money trial on Monday. At one point, Judge Juan Merchan admonished defense witness Robert Costello. According to the court transcript, the judge told Costello “if you try to stare me down one more time, I will remove you from the stand."  New York Times' senior political correspondent Maggie Haberman and former chief judge of the U.S. Middle District Court of Pennsylvania John E. Jones III join AC360 to break down today’s proceedings. Plus, Anderson speaks with television host Bill Maher about his new book "What This Comedian Said Will Shock You" and the current state of play for American politics.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A blockbuster day during former President Trump’s criminal hush money trial. Trump attorney Todd Blanche repeatedly raised questions about Michael Cohen’s honesty during cross-examination. In another notable development, sources tell CNN the defense may call attorney Robert Costello to the stand to continue their claim that Cohen is a liar. Anderson Cooper and Kaitlan Collins lead a full debrief tonight with guests including jury and trial consultant Renato Stabile, courtroom sketch artist Jane Rosenberg, one of Trump's former attorneys William Brennan, and Cohen's former attorney and current legal adviser Lanny Davis.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices