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I miss precedented times. Since the pandemic started in 2020, the news has warned us about the unprecedented times we live in seemingly every day. There have been enough historic news events in these past few years to fill entire libraries. The very saying “unprecedented times” has become almost meaningless, considering how often both sides of the political aisle have used it to describe newsworthy events.

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Nevertheless, we truly are living in unprecedented times. The conviction of former United States President Donald Trump exemplifies this.

On May 30, 2024, Donald Trump was found guilty on 34 charges of falsifying business records. Trump was already the first former president ever to face a criminal trial. Now, he has become the first former president ever to become a convicted felon.

President Trump’s sentencing will take place on July 11. He could face a simple fine or probation, but Judge Merchan could also sentence him to up to 4 years in prison. This could lead to Trump, currently the leading candidate in the presidential race, campaigning from a cell. This would be yet another first for the former president, as well as for the nation.

But what exactly happened?

The Trumped-Up Trial

The prosecution accused Trump of poor record-keeping, improperly recording hush-money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels. While the defense argued that these payments were unrelated to Trump’s campaign and political ambitions, the prosecution argued that they should have been classified as campaign-finance expenses.

It is important to remember that business-records charges are not felony offenses. To elevate the charges to felonies, the prosecution relied on an expansive legal theory, alleging that Trump falsified business records to conceal the underlying crime of defrauding the American public.

Throughout the trial, the defense cast doubt on Michael Cohen, the prosecution’s star witness. Cohen, a disbarred former attorney, did implicate Trump in his testimony. He also, however, admitted to stealing money from the Trump Organization, painting his testimony and honesty in a dubious light.

Many feel that Trump never had a fair chance in this trial, regardless of how the arguments played out. After all, how could he? Alvin Bragg, the district attorney who brought this case, is an outspoken Democrat with a long history of opposing the Trump family. Judge Merchan formerly donated to the Biden campaign in 2020, and his daughter has worked with Democrat campaigns and political action committees. Above all else, Trump stood before a jury in one of the most deep blue areas of the country. The odds were not in his favor.

New York law allows Judges much leeway in application of legal process. At one point he instructed the jury they were able to convict while not finding him guilty. The jury was not required to be unanimous on each of the 36 counts. We will never know what the actual vote of each count actually was.

So what happens now?

Trump’s sentencing could be delayed, but it’s unlikely that Merchan will allow that. In preparation for the sentencing, probation officers will complete an advisory presentencing report, and Trump will gather letters attesting to his character. As all parties prepare for the first-ever sentencing of a former president and leading presidential candidate, we look forward to more unprecedented times in July.

How We Can Pray

Many are saying that May 30 was a dark day in American history, describing the conviction as a hopeless crossing of the Rubicon, a crushing victory of the forces of darkness over the people of God. But there is always hope in Christ. This darkness cannot and will not suffocate the light. In fact, Isaiah 60 gives great hope that when darkness is heavy and thick, the glory of the Lord rises on us. That  is where my focus and my hope is.

Trump will almost certainly appeal and fight his verdict, which is a lawfare-fueled attempt to keep him out of the White House, and we’ll pray that it won’t stop him. Even now, we pray that God’s will would be done in November and we pray that the election will be fair and accurate, with Christians exercising their responsibility and privilege to vote.

Above all else, we will continue to hope. The enemy is always seeking to demoralize us. God uses his attacks for our good and His glory. And God will have the last word on all human affairs.  May His will be done.

Please post your prayer in the comments.

(Photo Credit: Justin Lane-Pool/Getty Images)