Twelve jurors enter a courthouse in New York. Opposite them sits Donald Trump, the former president of the United States. He is on trial for 34 counts of falsifying business records.

The judge asks the foreman to read out the verdict. In a clear voice, he announces that the former president is guilty. According to one witness, "the air in the courtroom turned to stone".

Donald Trump paid $130,000 to a former adult actress, Stormy Daniels, in the run-up to the 2016 election. The payment was made to keep her relationship with Trump a secret. Lawyers argued that the former president falsely recorded this money as "legal expenses".

Many of Trump's critics hope this scandal will sink his career. "I do think it will have an impact and damage him as a candidate," claims Ariel Hill-Davis, co-founder of a Republic pressure group trying to move the party away from Trump.

However, there is no law against someone with a criminal record running for president and some people think the scandal might mean Trump attracts more votes.

The judge can award up to four years in prison for each offence, but most legal experts expect a fine.

Polls suggest that Trump is neck and neck with his Democratic rival, President Joe Biden.

He is also facing three more criminal trials, but none of these is set to begin before 5 November, when Americans vote for their next president.

But could Trump still be the next US president?

Yes! New York is a Democratic state and the prosecutors were very critical of Trump. Turning the courts into a political weapon will only increase support for the former president.

No! Republicans are traditionally the party of law and order and supporters will struggle to vote for a convicted criminal as their next head of state.