On Thursday, with the historic verdict by a New York jury Donald Trump became the first ex-President to be convicted of felony crimes. The jury found him guilty of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 elections through hush money payments to his porn star aide.
He was declared guilty in all 34 counts charged against him. The judgment presents voters with another test of their willingness to accept Trump’s objectionable behavior. They now have to choose between a convicted criminal and a popular incumbent for the office of America’s President.
The two star witnesses and former Trump aides – adult actress Stormy Daniels, “fixer” and ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen – testified against the very man whom they saved earlier.
Trump responded to the verdict by calling it a “disgrace” and has vowed to appeal against it in the final sentencing slated on July 11. He said, “The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5, by the people,” referring to Election Day.
Let me be FUCKING clear: I voted for Donald Trump two times, and I will be voting for Donald Trump a third time in November.
Today is a dark day for America.
pic.twitter.com/dQO3CmNm9Y— Chad Prather (@WatchChad) May 30, 2024
The defense has accused the judge, Juan M Merchan, of bias citing his daughter’s work heading a firm whose clients have included Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democrats.
Can Trump still run for President?
Legally, he can. There is no Constitutional provision in the American Constitution that prohibits felons from doing so. In fact a President can serve from the prison cell as well, though in practice that would be disruptive for the American government.
Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump, who serves as co-chair of the Republican National Committee, said in a Fox News Channel interview on Thursday that he would do virtual rallies and campaign events if he’s convicted and sentenced to home confinement.
However, his voting rights might be in peril. Trump is registered in Florida, where felons are stripped off their voting rights temporarily. The state law prescribes that felons must complete their full sentence, including parole or probation, before exercising their voting rights.
With Election scheduled on November 5, it seems unlikely that Trump will have completed his felony sentence. Even if he were sentenced to probation, he could end up in jail if found guilty of additional crimes. Trump has three other criminal cases lodged against him: two federal, dealing with his handling of classified documents and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election; and a state case in Georgia that concerns election interference.
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His new status as a felon
The pack of lies that catapulted Trump’s position from a businessman to the President of the United States has earned him a new title of a ‘felon’. Convicted felons lose rights such as Voting rights, travel abroad, right to bear arms, jury service, employment in certain disciplines, public social benefits, parental rights and housing.
According to Black’s law dictionary, convicted felons are given restrictions within the law to help protect society. In addition to losing rights, convicted felons are also required to abide by certain regulations like regular drug screenings and sobriety treatment.
The ex-President has been convicted of 34 Class E felonies, New York’s lowest level, each of which carry a potential penalty of up to four years in prison.
‘No one is above the law’
While Trump’s conviction in the Hush money trial was expected to be a cause for celebration within the Democrat camps, they are rather cautious and disappointed with the verdict. Manipulating a democratic process for personal gains is quite alarming and remains a threat to America’s democracy. The Democrats have emphasized that “no one is above the law.”
“Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed that he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gains. But today’s verdict does not change the fact that American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: the Ballot Box,” Biden’s communications director Michael Tyler said.
