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Briana: Tonight on NJ Spotlight News, Donald Trump is guilty of all 34 felony counts in his hush money trial.

The legal and medical reaction here in the state to the historic conviction of the Former President.

>> I think that is what has changed in politics, the idea that you can survive scandal.

Somehow it does not make you -- you don't have to disappear from the stage.

Briana: Still on trial in a courtroom a block away for federal corruption charges is the senior senator from New Jersey, as week three comes to a close.

Plus, as Israel continues its push into central Rafah local advocates and Palestinian families are reeling from a refugee camp bombing.

>> The Biden administration has not done enough to stop this massacre.

Thousands of people are dying.

And being killed with bombs that are being funded by our tax dollars.

Briana: And after an unruly Memorial day weekend, city officials along the shore look to crack down on rowdy teens as the summer season kicks in.

>> There is no repercussions.

These kids have no fear of the law because the law does not do anything to them.

Briana: NJ Spotlight News begins right now.

♪ >> From NJPBS Studios, this is NJ Spotlight News.

With Briana Vannozzi.

Briana: Good evening and thanks for joining us this Friday night.

I am Briana Vannozzi.

The U.S. is in unchartered political territory tonight after Former President Donald Trump was found guilty Thursday of all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

In a New York State hush money case stemming from payments made to silence an adult film star during the 2016 election.

Jurors took two days to delivery.

The verdict makes Trump the first Former President in American history to be convicted of a felony crime.

Trump immediately railed against the court case, repeating claims that it was rigged and vowing to appeal.

He faces the possibility of probation or a prison sentence, the legal experts say it is unlikely he will see the inside of a jail cell.

Verdict has jolted the upcoming presidential election.

It does not prevent Mr. Trump from running or winning the Republican nomination, and many political analysts believe it will likely help him.

Senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan has the reaction and fallout from New Jersey.

>> Count four.

Reporter: protesters outside court cheered the jury verdict Donald Trump found guilty on all 34 counts in the New York hush money case, the first-ever felony conviction of a former U.S. president.

Amidst a heavy police presence, is furious supporters about revenge.

>> Put Trump in jail and he wins.

It will make January 6 look like a day in kindergarten.

Brenda: Arguments over the ruling revealed a nation sorely develop -- divided in a tumble to his campaign to come.

In a rambling speech, Trump repeated a litany of accusations, promising his legal team will appeal the conviction.

Mr. Trump: as the public understands, and they understands what is going on, this is a scam.

This is a rigged trial.

Brenda: President Biden counter -- Pres.

Biden: It's reckless, it's dangerous, it is irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they don't like the verdict.

The justice system should be respected, and we should never allow anyone to tear it down.

Brenda: After the verdict, both the Trump and Biden campaigns launched fundraising efforts, in the Former President alleged he has raised an astonishing amount from small money donors overnight.

Mr. Trump: a record $39 million in about a 10 hour period.

Think about.

>> He has raised a lot of money from new donors.

It is not only galvanizing the base, but perhaps galvanizing people who were not decided or did not have a full interest in him or his campaign.

And now they do.

They feel this is a reason to get involved.

Brenda: A Republican strategist believes this verdict could act fire on -- could backfire on Democrats.

That is certainly how New Jersey's congressional delegation reacted with the Democrat Bill Pascrell posting "despite Trump's best efforts, the rule of law is fair and alive in America."

Democrat Mikey Cheryl agreed, no American is above the law, including age Former President.

But this Former President is different, says Micah.

>> He does not have any shame.

He is not walking away.

He is going to hang in there.

I think that is what has changed, the idea that you can survive scandal.

Somehow, it does not make you have to -- you don't have to disappear from the stage.

Brenda: And most Republican politicians are sticking with him.

Jersey Congressman Jeff Van Drew posted the left has made a joke of our justice system and their political persecution of Donald Trump.

And first chair and comment Tom Kane and Anstey is voting for Trump just hours before the verdict.

>> What we are seeing now is a bunch of Republicans coming out and agreeing with Donald Trump that the case was rigged, that the trial was rigged.

Therefore, that says to me, that is only going to harden the existing public opinion about this.

Brenda: Patrick Murray says Jersey will remain blue, but a relatively small number of swing state voters determine the outcome in presidential contests.

He says that is tougher for pollsters to accurately sample.

>> If it moves public opinion a little, that could have a significant impact.

The problem is is that it will move it so little, that we can pick up on it significantly in polling.

>> Does galvanize Republican base voters to come out, which should have a trickle down effect.

Brenda: Republicans will convene their national convention to formerly -- formerly anointed Trump as their presidential candidate four days after he is scheduled to be judged.

One former prosecutor predicts a possible home detention for Trump.

>> I have seen that in cases of older defendants when there is no criminal history, there is no danger to the community, no risk of flight.

Brenda: He does not think the judge will send the Former President to jail.

He does see several points Trump's legal team can argue on appeal.

>> One example is just the salacious and intimate details when Stormy Daniels testified.

One of the other ones that I recalled his they were not able to present expert testimony on what did and did not constitute a federal election law violation.

Brenda: That appeals process could take months, while past members presidential election.

The winner will decide whether those appeals continue.

I am Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: While Trump's trial is over, the federal corruption case against senior U.S.

Senator Bob Menendez rolls on.

As week three comes to a close, possible -- prosecutors pulled out a new witness come a senior level official at the USDA who government lawyers allege was pressured by Menendez to but out of the lucrative Halal eat Monopoly his codefendant had secured.

It is one of the first times the prosecution presented direct communication from Menendez that did not first go through his wife, Nadine.

It may not prove a quid pro quo.

Ted Goldberg has been inside the Manhattan federal courtroom and joins me from outside with an upstate -- with an update.

A truncated schedule.

How did the prosecution make the best of its time?

Ted: It was a short schedule.

But there were explosive testimony coming from former USDA Undersecretary Ted McKinney.

He testified when he saw this Halal eat monopoly created in Egypt, one of the first things he started to do was to raise alarm bells.

Not just within Egypt as far as sending informal emails, but sending informal letters.

He was writing to Egyptian dignitaries and Egypt and the Bassett are in D.C., and Ejection government officials asking, why are you going to just one company to certify meat for the entire country?

He said he never got a reply, never got a response, informal, formal, or otherwise.

That is his testimony took a turn.

A few weeks after he sent these emails and letters, he testified he received a call from Senator Robert Menendez.

.

We heard a lot about this monopoly forming, but this was the first time it seems like the prosecution has been able to link the senator with this meat monopoly.

Especially this explicitly.

As part of the phone call that McKinney says he received from Senator Menendez, he said what people times, he heard from the senator "stop interfering with my constituent."

In case there was any confusion, McKinney said this four or five times over the course of his testimony, stop interfering with my constituent.

The defense will try to get a crack at McKinney over the next day or so.

But this was pretty explosive stuff, pretty damming stuff coming from the former undersecretary of agriculture at the USDA.

Briana: And the first time now in a few days we have seen them pitted from what had been just lengthy records of emails and text messages, talking to FBI agents.

Did they dive back into that today?

Ted: Don't worry, there was still a lot of documentation happening, whether it was texts or voicemails or voice memos or emails from Nadine Menendez.

Sending them out to people.

There was a little bit of everything.

There were receipts.

Nadine acknowledging the receipt of a $3000 piece of exercise equipment, courtesy of some of the defendants.

Also, acknowledging that housework had been done around her home in North Jersey.

There was also a message that she had sent asking well Hana, one of the codefendants, to help out with her mortgage saying she was falling behind on her mortgage payments, in danger of foreclosure.

This is something we saw in previous testimony from the lawyer, John Lavon, who briefly worked at ISC G hello -- ISC G Halal.

Briana: He quickly, because this is the end of week three, where do we see this trial heading next?

Ted: The interesting thing is this is the first time we have heard from the businessman, his name appears in these texts because Nadine says she reached out to him to try to arrange this mortgage payment.

He is the star witness for the prosecution.

He has not taken to the stand.

Looks like that will happen next week if not later.

This is the first time we have seen his name in relation to this evidence.

His name has popped up.

Seems like he will play a large role in this case to come.

Briana: Ted Goldberg for us in Manhattan.

Thank you so much for the update.

President Biden urged Hamas to agree to a new cease-fire offer from Israel.

Proposal that would see the release of surviving hostages being held by the militant group in exchange for a pause in the Gaza war.

The president referred to it as a roadmap to end the deadly conflict, calling on Hamas leaders not to "lose this moment."

The plan would release hostages in stages, beginning women, the sick, and elderly during a six-week cease-fire, that could be extended to allow for more humanitarian aid into Gaza and while negotiations play out for the release of additional hostages.

Eventually also to end the war.

The president's remarks come as the Israeli military confirms its forces have moved into central Rafah, despite international backlash and anger from allies to scale back the offensive in the southern city.

After over the weekend, an Israeli airstrike killed dozens of displaced Palestinians, sheltering in a tent camp.

Melissa Rose Cooper spoke with New Jerseyans whose families were there.

>> What surprised me is that we continue to just watch.

We keep saying, we want to help.

Week saying that we want to send humanitarian aid.

We keep saying we need to do medical relief.

We place redlines that don't mean anything.

Melissa: He expresses his disappointment following last weekend's Israeli strike on a Palestinian tent camp in Rafah, killing dozens.

He owns this plastic surgery clinic in Princeton and returned home after spending three weeks in Gaza, providing humanitarian relief with the Palestinian American Medical Association.

>> I saw daily suffering.

I saw children that are burned and wounded.

Much more than I have seen in the past.

I saw people that were displaced from their homes.

I saw whole families that came in together.

I have seen mass casualties in the past where people come in from injuries from different disasters or accidents.

But this was whole families coming in.

Parents, children, uncles, grunge -- grandparents.

Melissa: Now, he is joining other New Jerseyans and calling on the U.S. to do even more to help end Israel's continue to strikes in Gaza.

Despite the presidents plea for a cease-fire today.

>> I want anyone who is watching to put yourself in the shoes of somebody who is there, displaced once again into a small camp with no food, no access to water.

And bombs dropping on your head.

There is no defense, there is nothing you can do to save yourself.

It is just, you are at the mercy of somebody else and at any moment, the tent next to you or the family you have known your whole life is now gone.

Melissa: He has lost nearly 40 members of his family since the war in Gaza began.

He also has loved ones living in Rafah and fears for their safety every day.

>> Thousands of people are dying and being killed with bombs that are being funded by our tax dollars.

We have people in our own country that do not have health care, that are starving on the streets, but we are sending over artillery and funding in, and then it is dropping on my family and killing them.

Our administration needs to absolutely stop.

The world is telling our country that we need to stop our support for these bombs that are dropping on kids.

>> Frustration and anger is an understatement.

Melissa: She is a Palestine education director at the Palestinian-American community center.

She says the attack on Rafah is a strong reminder of the importance of speaking out for what is right, so the organization has been encouraging people to make their voices heard at the polls.

>> We have been doing a phone banking push all week.

We have had people coming in every day to the center.

We have had people going out to local voting locations.

A lot of other great community organizers are doing this.

We are trying to tell people, we have the voice and now more than ever, we have to use it.

Melissa: Even the lives continue to be lost, advocates like Hemingway are holding onto hope that peace in Gaza will come soon.

For NJ Spotlight News, I am Melissa Rose Cooper.

Briana: In a major policy shift elsewhere, President Biden has given permission to Ukraine to carry out limited strikes inside Russian territory using American-made weapons.

The loosened restrictions, amid growing international pressure from U.S. allies, but the White House as potential strikes will be limited to what it characterizes as acts of self-defense.

Specifically in the area around Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, where Russian forces have made advances the Biden administration is standing firm in forbidding Ukraine from using U.S. supply long-range missiles which have the capability of reaching deep inside Russian territory.

Experts say the White House's decision marks a new chapter in the war because until now, President Biden flatly refused Ukraine's request to use American weapons outside of its borders, regardless of the reason.

It is unlikely to boost Ukraine's ability to repel Russia's invasion.

In our spotlight on business report tonight, it could soon be easier for New Jersey seniors to get their tax relief benefits.

New recommendations issued this week call for streamlining the current application process for benefits starting early next year.

Guidelines come from a task force of experts who are working on the new stay NJ property tax relief program, and they are urging the state to do away with the numerous applications that exist in order to take part in different benefits programs.

Even if those changes are made, the report says it will not speed up how quickly those checks are cut, because the government needs to upgrade software and other technology to deliver the tax credits directly.

The task force did not address exactly how the state will fund the proposed stay NJ plan after it rolls out in 2026 using roughly $600 million of taxpayer money over the next three fiscal years.

As our budget and finance writer John Reitmeyer explains, the program cost is expected to balloon after that to more than $1 billion and does not have a dedicated source of revenue.

>> Estate is really setting aside money now -- the state is really setting aside money now where they can rollout what will be a significant program starting in the first part of 2026.

The state is planning to bend over $2 billion just on the anchor program in the Briana: Next fiscal year.

On Wall Street, stocks dipped into the red, despite the Fed's inflation reading coming in near expectations.

Here is where the markets closed for the week.

♪ The mayors of several short towns are hoping for a quieter weekend after the Memorial Day holiday saw a handful of violent and rowdy incidents by teens on boardwalks.

New Jersey State police union says there needs to be real consequences for drunk and disorderly groups.

Local leaders blamed the state's scaled-back law enforcement roles for juveniles, while Governor Murphy insisted the shore did not have a chaotic weekend.

Where do they go from here?

Joanna Gagis reports.

>> There is no repercussions.

These kids have no fear of the law because the law does not do anything to them.

Joanna: Jersey shore mayors are frustrated at what they say is their inability to manage crowds of young people who use their short towns as party towns during the summer.

>> You can be grabbed eight times for underage drinking, and the best I can do is call your parents.

Joanna: Their concerns only exacerbated by three incidents at the shore this weekend.

A nasty fight that led to the stabbing of a 15-year-old boy on the boardwalk in Ocean City.

The comp between two groups that knew each other.

Is for an incident in Seaside Heights had a from the boardwalk because they thought shots were fired.

They want, according -- they were not, according to police.

A fight broke out among a large group of kids on the boardwalk who had several calls to the police because of their rowdy behavior.

>> You go to the beach and the kids are down there drinking all over the beach.

God forbid one of these kids gets drunk, goes in the ocean, and then grounds.

I can hear right away, they let stuff go on, they don't stop.

When you are handcuffed, you can only do so much.

Joanna: This mayors has his officers are handcuffed because of new limits Governor Murphy placed on penalties for underaged use of cannabis and I'll call.

Part of the state's legal -- decriminalization of cannabis.

Police are limited to reporting any use or possession to parents, with no fines or further penalties.

New Jersey policy perspective advocated for that position.

>> The data shows disproportionately children of color are more likely to be arrested, more likely to go to jail, even though they use drugs and alcohol at the same rates as white youth.

What ends up happening is this creates higher likelihood that that young person will end up incarcerated in the future.

And the penalties can be really devastating to families that will then have fines and fees to pay, could impact their educational opportunities.

Joanna: New Jersey's legislature had approved a $50 fine which Murphy conditionally vetoed in the bill, saying that amount would do nothing to deter underage drinking in affluent youth, but could have compounding impact on families of color who face increased fines for nonpayment.

The state's police Pennell of the -- benevolent Association says another aspect limits officers from approaching young people who are inebriated.

>> This got inhibited the officers from going to those individuals and saying, can I see your identification?

That officer would be held to a third-degree crime deprivation of civil rights to those young adults.

Joanna: The law was modified to require a person dumbest -- demonstrate that officer's intent.

>> Anybody can make that claim.

Joanna: That has officers scared to act in some scared to even take on the job.

The ACLU sees it differently.

>> Disruptive behavior, noise complaints, violent behavior is not touched by the law change.

The conversation has really grown beyond this very narrow shift.

I believe we need to be honest about what we are talking about.

It was a narrow law change.

Law enforcement continues to have a broad authority.

What are we talking about?

Joanna: Officers made arrests in each of the violent disturbances at the shore.

Lawmakers are drafting a bill to create harsher penalties around riots, and the New Jersey State police will be on the block in Wildwood, ensuring coming senior week, a time known for underage partying, stays orderly.

For NJ Spotlight News, I am Joanna Gagis.

Briana: That does it for us tonight.

Tune into Chat Box with David Cruz this weekend.

He sits down with Ravi Balla and representative Rob Menendez, the Democrats vying for the eighth congressional district nomination.

They square off on the top issues facing New Jersey and the nation.

That is Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday morning at 10:30.

Reporters Roundtable, David talks to Democratic strategists Dan Brian about what is at stake for candidates as we approach the June 4 primary.

That is Saturday at 6:00 p.m. and Sunday morning at 10:00.

Speaking of the June 4 primary, you will want to tune in right here.

Polls close at 8:00 p.m. and we will have live updates on the hour.

And full live coverage with our reporters covering key races across the state and all of the political analysis you need with our experts in the studio.

That is Tuesday, June 4 here on NJPBS, our website, and screaming on the NJ Spotlight News YouTube channel.

I am Briana Vannozzi.

For the entire NJ Spotlight News team, thank you for being with us.

Have a great weekend.

We will see you back here next week.

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Have our schools and streets.

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Investing in parks, helping towns go green, supporting civic centers, scholarships, and workforce development that strengthen our community.

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♪