He BREAKS DOWN In Court As Judge READS “Guilty On ALL Counts”? | Jack Smith

This morning at 10:23 a.m., a jury of 12 citizens returned a verdict that no one in that courtroom will ever forget. And before you think this is speculation about what might happen someday, I need you to understand what actually occurred in that federal courtroom. I am not talking about a guilty verdict on some charges.

 I am not talking about a mixed verdict where the defense can claim partial victory. I am talking about a jury foreman standing up and saying guilty 34 times, one for every count. And I am talking about the defendant who has projected strength and defiance for years, visibly breaking down as the verdict was read. I have prosecuted federal cases for 30 years.

 I have been in courtrooms when guilty verdicts were announced. I have seen defendants react with anger, with denial, with stoicism. But I have never seen someone who spent months claiming the trial was rigged, the jury was biased, and the verdict would be overturned completely break down the moment the word guilty was spoken.

 And here is what makes this moment so significant. This was not just a legal defeat. This was the collapse of a narrative. The narrative that the system was corrupt. The narrative that the evidence did not matter. The narrative that power could overcome accountability. When the jury said guilty on all counts, that narrative shattered.

 So here is what I am going to do. I am going to walk you through what happened in that courtroom minuteby minute. I am going to show you the jury’s deliberation timeline. I am going to describe the defendant’s reaction as each guilty verdict was read. And I am going to explain what guilty on all counts means for sentencing. Because here is what this verdict means in plain English.

 The jury did not believe the defense. The jury believed the evidence and the defendant is going to federal prison. The only question now is for how long. I will be covering this case through sentencing evidence, not spin. If you want to understand what happens when a jury finds someone guilty on all counts, stay with me.

 Now, let me show you exactly what happened when that verdict was read. Let me walk you through the timeline because every moment matters. The jury began deliberations on Tuesday at 2:15 p.m. They deliberated for 3 hours that day before the judge sent them home. Wednesday morning, they returned at 9:00 a.m. They deliberated all day.

 At 5:30 p.m. the judge asked if they were close to a verdict. The four person said they needed more time. Thursday morning 9:00 am deliberations resumed. At 10:15 a.m. the jury sent a note. We have reached a verdict. That is fast for a case with 34 counts. It signals the jury was not divided. They were in agreement.

 The judge called everyone back into the courtroom. The defendant was brought from the holding cell where he had been waiting. His attorneys took their positions at the defense table. The prosecutors sat across the aisle and the jury filed in. Here is what I need you to understand about that moment. In every criminal trial, there is a ritual.

The judge asks the jury if they have reached a verdict. The four person says yes. The judge asks for the verdict form. The clerk takes it from the four person and hands it to the judge. The judge reviews it silently. Then the judge hands it to the clerk to read aloud. That process takes about 2 minutes.

 But those two minutes are the longest two minutes in any courtroom because everyone knows what is coming, but no one knows which way it will go. Except this time, something happened that almost never happens. As the clerk began to read, the defendant’s hands started shaking. Court observers reported that the defendant, who had maintained a defiant posture throughout the trial, suddenly looked down at the table.

 His attorneys noticed and leaned over to speak with him, but the clerk continued reading. Count one, falsifying business records in the first degree. How do you find? The four person stood guilty. The courtroom was silent. No gasps, no reactions. The judge had warned everyone that outbursts would result in removal. Count two, falsifying business records in the first degree.

How do you find guilty? The defendant’s head dropped lower. Count three, guilty. Count four, guilty. By count seven, the defendant’s shoulders were shaking. His lead attorney put a hand on his arm. By count 12, tears were visible. The defendant was crying in open court. By count 20, the defendant had his head in his hands.

 And by count 34, the final count, the defendant was openly sobbing. The clerk finished reading. The judge asked the four person to confirm. Is this your verdict? Yes, your honor. The judge asked each juror individually. Juror number one, is this your verdict? Yes. Juror number two, yes. All 12 jurors confirmed. Guilty on all 34 counts.

 The judge thanked the jury and excused them. Then the judge turned to the defendant. The defendant was asked to stand. The judge set a sentencing date for July 11th and remanded thedefendant to custody until sentencing. Federal marshals approached the defense table. And for the first time in this entire case, the defendant did not argue, did not object, did not claim the process was unfair.

 He simply stood, handscuffed in front of him and was led out of the courtroom. That was the moment. The moment when defiance turned to devastation. The moment when the reality of guilty on all counts became undeniable. Now, let me explain what the jury decided and why this verdict is so complete.

 The 34 counts all related to falsifying business records. The prosecution had to prove several elements for each count. First, the defendant made or caused a false entry in business records. Second, the defendant did so with intent to defraud. Third, the false entry was made to conceal another crime. The jury heard three weeks of testimony.

 Witnesses included the defendant’s former attorney, his former accountant, his former business associates, and an adult film actress. Documents included checks, invoices, ledgers, and bank statements. The defense argued that the payments were legitimate legal expenses, that there was no intent to defraud, that the business records were accurate.

 The prosecution argued that the payments were disguised hush money, that the intent was to conceal the payments from voters, that the business records were deliberately falsified to hide the true purpose. The jury deliberated for a total of 11 hours over 3 days, and they found the prosecution proved every element of every count beyond a reasonable doubt.

 That is a complete victory for the prosecution. But more importantly, it is a complete rejection of the defense. When a jury finds guilty on all counts, they are saying, “We did not believe your story. We believed the other side.” Now, let me show you what happens next because the timeline matters. Sentencing is set for July 11th.

 Between now and then, several things will happen. First, the probation department will prepare a presentence report. This report investigates the defendant’s background, criminal history, financial situation, and personal circumstances. It recommends a sentencing range based on federal guidelines. Second, both sides will file sentencing memoranda.

 The prosecution will argue for a significant prison sentence. They will emphasize the seriousness of the crimes, the abuse of power, and the need for deterrence. The defense will argue for leniency. They will point to the defendant’s age, lack of prior criminal convictions, and family circumstances. Third, victim impact statements may be filed.

 In this case, the victims are the voters who were deceived. Whether the court allows victim statements is an open question. On July 11th, the sentencing hearing will take place. The judge will hear arguments from both sides. The judge will ask the defendant if he wants to make a statement. Then the judge will impose sentence.

 Here is the sentencing range. Each count carries maximum four years. With 34 counts, theoretical maximum is 136 years, but sentences run concurrent. Realistic range is probation to four years. The judge has discretion and will consider nature of offense. Need to deter others. Need to protect public and defendants’s character.

 Based on 30 years experience, I expect at least two years in prison. This involve deliberate deception, abuse of power, attempt to influence election. Aggravating factors. The judge will send a message. This conduct has serious consequences, but will also consider first offense and age. I expect two to four years, not maximum or life sentence.

 Now, let me address what you are probably thinking. Will the defendant actually go to prison or will appeals delay everything for years? Here is the legal reality. The defendant has the right to appeal. But an appeal does not automatically stop the sentence. The defendant would need to post an appeal bond and convince an appellet court to grant a stay of sentence.

 Given the complete nature of this verdict, guilty on all 34 counts, a stay is unlikely. Appellet courts grant stays when there is a substantial question about the verdict. When a jury convicts on all counts after a three-week trial, there is no substantial question. The evidence was presented, the jury decided, the verdict stands.

 So yes, the defendant will likely go to prison while the appeal is pending and that appeal will take years. During those years, the defendant will be in prison. Not house arrest, not probation, prison. Let me tell you what this verdict means beyond one person. This was a jury of 12 citizens. They sat through three weeks of testimony. They heard the evidence.

They deliberated for 11 hours. And they reached a unanimous verdict. Guilty on all counts. That is the system working. Not a judge imposing their will. Not a politician making a decision. Not a prosecutor overreaching. A jury of citizens applying the law to the facts. That is what the Constitution promises.A jury of your peers.

 And that jury said you are guilty. Some will say this was a political prosecution that the charges were brought to influence an election. But juries are not political. Juries are random citizens from the community. They do not have a political agenda. They have a legal obligation to follow the evidence.

 This jury followed the evidence. And the evidence led them to guilty on every single count. That is accountability. That is justice. And that is what happens when the system works the way it is supposed to work. Now, let me explain why the defendant’s breakdown matters. For years, the defendant projected an image of invincibility.

 He claimed that every investigation was a witch hunt, that every charge was politically motivated, that no jury would convict. That image required denying reality. It required pretending that evidence did not matter, that juries could be intimidated or influenced. That power was enough to escape accountability.

 But when the jury said guilty 34 times, that image collapsed. You cannot deny a verdict. You cannot claim it is fake. You cannot pretend it did not happen. The defendant’s breakdown in court was the moment when reality became undeniable. The tears were not an act. The shaking hands were not performance. That was the realization that the system cannot be bullied, manipulated, or avoided.

 That was the moment when invincibility shattered. And that moment matters because it shows that no one is above the law. Not because a prosecutor says so, not because a judge rules, but because a jury of citizens says so. That is the foundation of the legal system. 12 people randomly selected. No political affiliation, no personal stake, just the evidence and the law.

When those 12 people say guilty, the system has spoken. I will be covering the sentencing hearing on July 11th. I will be analyzing the sentence that is imposed and I will be following the appeal because this case is not over but the verdict is final. Guilty on all 34 counts.

 Let me know in the comments what sentence do you think the judge should impose. I read every comment. Thank you for watching. I will see you in the next analysis.