“November 5th is when the real verdict will be announced.” Donald Trump is the first former US President to be found guilty.

With a New York jury finding him guilty of all 34 counts in a plan to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn performer who claimed the two had sex, Donald Trump became the first former US president to be convicted of criminal crimes on Thursday.

On May 30, a jury in New York found Donald Trump guilty of fabricating papers to conceal a payment made to a porn star in order to quiet her ahead of the 2016 election, making him the first sitting president of the United States to be found guilty of a felony.

After two days of deliberations, the 12-member jury found Trump guilty on all 34 counts. 

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As the decision was read, the former US President sat there expressionless.

After exiting the courthouse, an enraged Trump told reporters, “This was a rigged, disgraceful trial.” 

• “The public will provide their true judgment on November 5th. Both they and everyone else are aware of what transpired here.
• Just a few days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where GOP leaders—who remained unwavering in their support following the verdict—are anticipated to formally nominate him, according to AP—Judge Juan M. Merchan has scheduled his sentence for July 11.
• Although individuals found guilty frequently receive lower terms, fines, or probation, the maximum punishment for the offense of fabricating company records is four years in jail. 
• According to the AP article, his incarceration would not legally stop him from running for office or accepting office if he were elected.
• It is anticipated that the former US President would appeal the decision.

“As soon as we can, we will file an appeal. 

Will Scharf, the attorney for Trump, said Fox News, “We will seek expedited review of this case.”

In an effort to generate money off the decision, his campaign reacted immediately, calling him a “political prisoner” in its appeal.

Trump is also charged with three other felonies. In each case, he has entered a not guilty plea and claimed that Biden’s Democratic supporters are using his legal issues as a political political tool against him.

The Biden campaign urged voters to reject Trump in the election, claiming that the judgment demonstrated that no one was above the law. 

The campaign released a statement saying, “There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box.”

Regarding the former President’s conviction, the White House remained silent.

Republicans who support Trump swiftly denounced the decision. Speaking from the House of Representatives, Speaker Mike Johnson declared, “Today is a shameful day in American history.”

No significant effect on reelection

It’s doubtful that the conviction will affect Trump’s chances of winning reelection in November.

The US Constitution only stipulates that citizens of the US who have been residents of the nation for 14 years must be at least 35 years old to be president.

A jail sentence or a criminal conviction would not impact Trump’s eligibility or capacity to run for president. If he were to defeat Democratic President Joe Biden in the November 5 election, he could theoretically be sworn in from jail or prison, according to a Reuters story.

In US history, jailhouse presidential campaigns are not new.

Socialist politician and activist Eugene V. Debs announced his candidacy for president in 1920 while incarcerated in Georgia for his opposition to World War I. The other, far-right conspiracy theorist Lyndon LaRouche, campaigned in 1992 while incarcerated in Minnesota on accusations of mail fraud, tax evasion, and other offenses.

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