Former President Trump was swiftly convicted of 34 charges related to the hush-money cover-up, making him the first president to be convicted of a felony, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be going to prison anytime soon.
A New York jury found Trump guilty on all charges brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (Democrat), finding that Trump had bribed his then-fixer Michael Cohen to bribe adult film actress Stormy Daniels and falsify business records in order to hide news of her alleged affair ahead of the 2016 election.
But Trump faces a long road before he serves any kind of punishment, let alone prison time.
The former president won’t be sentenced until his hearing on July 11, just four days before he is scheduled to formally become a candidate at the Republican National Convention. A conviction would not bar him from running for president.
While Trump could face prison time, first-time offenders like his often don’t face jail time. The charges are all Class E felonies, carrying a maximum sentence of four years each, though those convicted often receive probation rather than prison.
Further complicating things, Trump is likely to appeal the ruling.
As he left a Manhattan courtroom on Thursday, he called the verdict “shameful.” He had previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, adding outside court that he was a “totally innocent man” and would “keep fighting.”
The Trump campaign must file a notice of appeal with the court within 30 days and file a full appeal within six months, setting off a new and drawn-out legal battle that is likely to continue beyond the November election.
It’s also possible that an appeals court could put Trump’s ruling on hold, putting the matter on hold while he challenges it.
Trump also referenced the election in criticizing the jury’s decision, saying “the real verdict will be made by the American people on November 5th.”
Trump also remains indicted in three other cases: two federal lawsuits brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith and the Mar-a-Lago Papers case over Trump’s efforts to thwart the transition of power, as well as a Georgia lawsuit also targeting Trump’s election interference efforts.
If Trump wins the election, the Justice Department is expected to drop the two federal cases against him, though it does not have the authority to do so in the state-level cases in New York and Georgia.
President Trump cannot pardon himself of any state-level charges.
Updated 6:53 p.m.
