ABC News investigative reporter Peter Charalambous was in the New York courtroom when Donald Trump heard the verdict.

"It was stunning in person in a way; I couldn't believe what I was seeing as it was happening in real time," he shared. "The former president thought the jury was going home for the day. He was laughing, he was happy. He was giddy at the counsel table around four o'clock, and then the mood all of a sudden changed around 4:30."

What happened when Judge Juan Merchan told the parties that a verdict had been reached?

"There was an audible gasp in the courtroom when that happened, and we had to wait. The former president was sitting frozen at the council table near the expression list. Basically, as we waited, the jury came in," Charalambous shared.