Everyone’s asking the same questions. Will former President Donald Trump go to jail following his guilty conviction? Will being a convicted felon affect his chances at winning office? Well, there’s an answer to those, but we ain’t sure you’re gonna like it...
On Thursday afternoon, a Manhattan jury convicted the Cheeto on 34 felony counts in connection to a hush money case (or, more specifically, falsifying business records to conceal an alleged affair during his 2016 campaign). According to state law, the charges warrant a sentence of 16 months to four years in prison.
At the moment, it’s unclear if he will go to jail. Lauren-Brooke Eisen, senior director at Brennan Center for Justice, told NPR it may be unlikely that he does any time at all because he’s had no prior criminal record. The report says he may just face probation time or a fine.
As Trump awaits his sentencing hearing on July 11, his attorney requested his client doesn’t get sent to the bing.
“I have no idea, look, there’s a system in place where you rely on precedent, and somebody like President Trump should never, never face a jail sentence based on this conduct,” said attorney Todd Blanche to CNN’s “The Source” host Kaitlan Collins.
Now, what does this conviction mean for his next run at Trump’s America Part 2?
In an odd paradox, the sentencing may only affect Trump’s ability to vote for president but not to run for president. The only requirements to be a running candidate for president is to be a natural born U.S. citizen, a U.S. resident for at least 14 years and at least 35 years of age.
...That’s it.
However, thanks to the 14th Amendment, a conviction for participating in an insurrection could throw a wrench in his presidency run. The case examining his involvement in the Jan 6. U.S. Capitol insurrection is still pending, and there’s no certainty that it will go to trial before the November election.
Surprisingly, Trump to continue his bid for president behind bars. For example, CNN reported Eugene Debs ran his presidential campaign from federal prison back in 1920.
The likelihood of Trump winding up behind bars following his July sentencing is low: he has 30 days to file a notice of appeal of the verdict, per The Washington Post. The full appeals process would go six months...well past the day we have to cast our ballots.