On Thursday afternoon, former President Donald Trump was found guilty of 34 felony counts related to the so-called hush money payments he made to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, in connection with his alleged affair with porn actress Stormy Daniels.
Legal analyst Jonathan Turley claimed he was “saddened” by the verdict. “I had hoped that the jury would restore integrity to an institution that has been exploited for political purposes,” Turley wrote on X.
So what does this conviction mean for Trump in the near future as the 2024 election day approaches?
Verdict
Judge Juan Merchan request The prosecution and defense have until June 13 to file motions, including sentencing recommendations.
She added that a prison sentence for Trump “would have political repercussions that Judge Marchan will want to avoid”.
It also scheduled Trump’s sentencing hearing for 10 a.m. July 11. Trump’s legal team has the option of asking to move the date, possibly until after the November election, but such a request would likely be denied.
From now until July 11, Trump will be free to do as he pleases. He will also no longer be subject to a gag order that previously prohibited him from talking about witnesses, judges or his family. Trump previously said: Marchan’s Daughter A political consultant who raises money for prominent Democrats, including Rep. Adam Schiff of California.
He will also attend a pre-sentence interview with his probation officer, who is expected to then provide Marchan with a sentence report.
Judge Marchan has near-sole authority to determine President Trump’s sentence and has several options to consider, including prison time.
Trump has been convicted of 34 felonies, all of which were non-violent. Class E FelonyIt’s the most minor offense in New York state and often doesn’t carry prison time, and Trump has no criminal record and, at 77, is unlikely to pose a threat to the public, all of which could work in his favor.
Cheryl Bader, a law professor at Fordham University, thinks it’s “unlikely” that Marchand would give Trump a prison sentence: “Given that he’s a former president, he has Secret Service personnel and he’s also the leading Republican candidate, I think a prison sentence would be logistically very difficult,” she told The Guardian.
She added that a prison sentence for Trump “would have political repercussions that Judge Marchan will want to avoid”.
Marchant had previously expressed reluctance to send Trump to prison. On May 6, after Trump allegedly violated parts of a gag order issued against him, Marchant told Trump, “The last thing I want is for you to go to prison. You’re a former president of the United States and you could be the next president.” As The Blaze News previously reported, Marchant ultimately fined Trump $1,000 for each violation.
In addition to prison time, Trump could face probation, fines and community service. “I would like to see community service, like picking up trash on the subway,” said Karen Friedman Anifilo, a former top Manhattan district attorney.
bring the action
Whatever the verdict, Trump will almost certainly appeal his conviction. The first step would be to appeal to the New York Court of Appeals, First Judicial Department. If that court upholds the conviction, Trump could then appeal to the Court of Appeals, New York’s highest court.
If that court also upholds the conviction, Trump could also take his case to the U.S. Supreme Court, but before the justices would agree to take the case, Trump’s lawyers would first have to convince them that the case, to be decided by a Manhattan jury, is a federal or constitutional issue.
These processes could take months or even years, likely delaying the actual execution of President Trump’s sentence.
motion
The Constitution does not bar felons from running for president, so the conviction should have no impact on Trump’s bid for a second term in November.
If anything, Trump seems more determined than ever to make his case to the American electorate.
“This was a rigged and dishonorable trial,” he said after Thursday’s verdict. “The real verdict will be given by the public on November 5th. The public knows what happened here, everyone knows what happened here. We have a Soros-backed district attorney, but we did nothing wrong in this case.”
“It’s OK. I’m fighting for my country,” he continued. “I’m fighting for the Constitution. The whole country is being rigged right now. This is something the Biden administration did to sway and hurt their political opponents. This is just disgraceful. We’re going to keep fighting. We’re going to fight to the end, and we’re going to win, because our country has gone to hell.”
Even if Trump wins and takes office in January, he would not be able to pardon himself because the matter is now a state, not federal, matter.
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