After barely two days of deliberation, the Manhattan jury found Trump guilty of all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, concluding the “hush money” trial that shook the nation. In the coming months, we will see what lies in store for former President and current candidate Donald Trump.
According to CNN, sentencing will be carried out by Judge Juan Merchan on July 11 at 10 a.m. Eastern Time. Possible sentences include probation or up to 20 years in state prison. For now, no bond has been posted, and Trump will remain out of jail until sentencing.
Can a felon run for U.S. President? According to U.S. law, yes. CNN states that University of California law professor Richard L. Hasen emphasized that the Constitution doesn’t ban those with a criminal record from running for president. While Trump supporters will probably vote for him regardless, the conviction can, and possibly will, influence the decisions other voters make, as well as Trump’s electoral campaign and run for re-election.
We don’t exactly think about it too much, but candidates can still vote. Or, should we say, attempt to give themselves a leg up. But will Trump still be allowed to do this?
Trump is a Florida resident. According to CNN, the state has very specific rules on felons and their right to vote. If found guilty of a crime in Florida, felons are banned from voting until they have completed their sentence, been released, and paid associated fines and fees. But Trump wasn’t found guilty in Florida. For felons found guilty outside of Florida, however, the Sunshine State defers to the laws of the state felons were convicted in.
Does New York have prohibitions on felons voting? Nope, not since 2021. So, unless he’s serving time in the big house, Trump can give himself an extra vote.
The future of Trump’s further criminal cases is currently pending. They will, however, proceed as normal and remain unaffected by the guilty verdict the Manhattan jury delivered. While his other charges have been placed on hold and trials postponed indefinitely, the U.S. Supreme Court is considering his “presidential immunity” claims. Will 2024 be the year we see a felon get elected president? We’ll just have to wait and see.
