WFY BUREAU USA: Donald Trump, the former US president, made history by becoming the first ex-president to face a criminal conviction.
This significant development marks a turning point in American politics and raises questions about the accountability of those in positions of power. The conviction sends a strong message about the importance of upholding the rule of law and serves as a reminder that no one is above it. The outcome of this trial will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications for the future of American democracy.
The Trump Hush Money Trial: In a historic turn of events, the recent verdict has marked a significant milestone for Trump, as he becomes the first former US president to face criminal conviction. However, it is important to note that this conviction does not hinder his ability to actively campaign for another term.
A New York jury rendered a historic verdict, finding Donald Trump guilty on all charges in his hush money case, thereby making him the first former US president to face criminal conviction. This development comes just months before a crucial election that could potentially pave the way for his return to the White House.
In a stunning verdict, the jury unanimously found him guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records. These records were allegedly manipulated in an attempt to conceal a payment that was intended to silence the well-known porn star, Stormy Daniels. The maximum sentence for each count could be four years in prison, but probation is more likely.
In a surprising turn of events, the 77-year-old Republican has been released without bail, marking a historic moment in a country where presidents are often hailed as the most powerful individuals on the planet.
Despite potential legal consequences, Trump remains undeterred in his pursuit to challenge President Joe Biden’s position in the upcoming November election. He expressed immediate defiance.
Trump told the press, “I consider myself to be a person of utmost innocence,” expressing his confidence that the electorate would render the final judgement. The defendant strongly criticised the trial, describing it as biassed and deeply disappointing.
In a recent statement, the Biden campaign emphasised the significance of the trial, highlighting the message that no individual is exempt from the law.
The source emphasised that Trump’s level of threat to our democracy has reached an unprecedented level.
The sentencing for Judge Juan Merchan’s case has been scheduled for July 11, just four days prior to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where Trump is expected to officially secure the party’s nomination.
The foreman swiftly announced the 12-member jury’s unanimous decision after more than 11 hours of deliberation over two days.
Merchan expressed gratitude to the jurors for successfully accomplishing what he described as a challenging and demanding responsibility.
Their identities had been closely guarded throughout the proceedings, a practice typically reserved for cases involving individuals with ties to organised crime or other dangerous defendants.
Allegations of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which Biden won, are currently facing both federal and state charges against Trump. Additionally, he is facing accusations of hoarding secret documents after his departure from the White House.
However, we don’t expect the trials for these more serious alleged crimes to start until after the presidential election.
Donald Trump has been found guilty of a felony.
There is still a possibility for him to run for president.
Is it possible for a convicted individual to run for the presidency?
According to the US Constitution, there are only three requirements that presidential candidates must meet.
They are required to:
- To be eligible, one must be a natural-born citizen.
- To meet the requirements, one must be at least 35 years old and have been a resident of the
- United States for a minimum of 14 years.
Trump fulfils all three criteria. According to the 14th Amendment, there is an additional criterion that prohibits individuals who have previously taken an oath of office and engaged in insurrection from holding a US officer position. In a recent ruling, the US Supreme Court made it clear that Congress must pass a specific law in order to enforce this prohibition. It is unlikely that this will happen soon.
The Republican National Convention in Milwaukee will take place just four days before Trump’s sentencing on July 11.
There is a slim possibility, albeit improbable for a first-time offender, that Trump could face a prison sentence.
According to Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the Secret Service, former President Trump will continue to receive lifetime Secret Service protection regardless of his location.
It’s important to remember that previous attempts to launch presidential campaigns from prison cells ultimately failed.
The Supreme Court upheld his conviction in that case, finding him guilty not only for opposing the draft but also for actively encouraging others to defy it. Then-Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes made the decision to keep Debs in jail a few months before his influential stance on free speech, which greatly shaped our perception of the First Amendment today.
Despite the repeal of the Sedition Act, Debs remained incarcerated. Former President Woodrow Wilson declined to grant a pardon. In 1921, Warren G. Harding, who succeeded Wilson and was a rival of Debs, commuted Debs’ sentence.
Now let’s address a more challenging question: Can a convicted felon exercise their right to vote?
Whether or not Trump will be able to vote in Florida’s November election depends on two things: whether he receives a prison sentence, and whether he completes serving that sentence before the election takes place.
Every state has the authority to establish its own set of regulations. Vermont and Maine have policies in place that allow individuals convicted of felonies to exercise their right to vote even while serving time in prison. Several states are making progress in granting voting rights to felons on parole.
In a surprising move, former President Trump has officially become a resident of Florida. This decision comes after Florida voters showed strong support in 2018 for a referendum that aimed to restore voting rights to convicted felons. Republican lawmakers, who hold the majority in government, initially delayed the state’s reenfranchisement process. Eventually, they made it a requirement for felons to fully settle all fines and fees related to their sentence in order to qualify.
Should the judge decide to impose a prison sentence on Trump, it is highly improbable that Trump would run out of time to appeal his conviction before Election Day. Should one of the two federal criminal cases against Trump result in a conviction before Election Day, the situation would certainly change.
Many post-incarceration felons in Florida face additional challenges, although these particular issues do not pertain to Trump. First and foremost, there is currently no centralised repository of information regarding the mandatory fees. Confusion has arisen, preventing numerous individuals from exercising their right to vote.
The alleged election conspiracy
The court found Donald Trump guilty of manipulating business records to reimburse his attorney, Michael Cohen, for a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 election. At that time, Daniels’ allegation of a sexual encounter with Trump had the potential to seriously damage his campaign against Hillary Clinton.
In the trial, the adult performer, known as Stephanie Clifford, provided extensive testimony to the court, recounting in explicit detail her alleged sexual encounter with Donald Trump in 2006.
Prosecutors presented a compelling case, arguing that the payment of hush money and the subsequent efforts to conceal it were not isolated incidents but rather part of a larger scheme aimed at keeping voters in the dark about Trump’s actions.
In a significant turn of events, Cohen, once a trusted aide who had betrayed his former boss, hailed the verdict as a crucial moment for holding individuals accountable and upholding the principles of justice.
Despite allegations, Trump has maintained his denial of any sexual encounter with Stormy Daniels. However, it is worth noting that he did not testify in his own defence. The lawyers maintained that all payments made to the performer were completely within the bounds of the law.
Engaging in political activities at the courthouse
The ongoing trial has significantly disrupted Trump’s campaign to unseat Biden.
Nevertheless, he capitalised on media attention throughout.
Following the announcement of the verdict, Trump’s campaign wasted no time in releasing a fundraising appeal with the attention-grabbing title, “I am a political prisoner!” In addition, he revealed his intention to deliver a public statement to members of the press on Friday morning.
While it may not have a significant impact on overall voting patterns, it could potentially make a difference in certain states that hold crucial swing votes. In highly contested races, the outcome can easily swing from one side to the other.
The Republican, known for his bold business ventures, experienced a remarkable rise to power when he won the 2016 election and became the nation’s highest-ranking official. Given that this is his first offence, it is likely that he will receive probation.
Although the process could potentially take several months to finalise, an appeal is highly likely.
If he were to win the presidency, he would not have the power to grant himself a pardon. The state of New York, not the federal government, initiated the case, leaving the governor solely responsible for proving his innocence.
What consequences does Trump now face following his conviction?
The potential consequences for each of the 34 counts range from up to four years in prison to the possibility of probation without any incarceration. The final decision lies in the hands of Justice Juan M. Merchan.