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A jury found Donald Trump guilty on Thursday of 34 counts of falsifying company records.
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The historic criminal conviction of an American president raises several questions about Trump’s future.
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Trump is preparing for battle President Joe Biden for president in November.
Former President Donald Trump is officially a criminal.
Thursday’s historic verdict against Trump marks the first time a US president has ever been criminally convicted.
The unprecedented legal outcome raises several questions about Trump’s future, especially as he prepares to challenge President Joe Biden for the presidency in November.
What was Trump found guilty of?
A Manhattan jury found Trump guilty of 34 counts of falsifying company records to cover up a $130,000 hush-money payment to adult film actor Stormy Daniels days before the 2016 elections.
What did Trump pay hush money for?
Trump ordered Michael Cohen, his then-fixer, to pay Daniels $130,000 to buy her silence about a sexual encounter she said took place between the two in 2006 at a Lake Tahoe hotel during a celebrity golf tournament. Trump then paid Cohen back the money — plus more to cover taxes and a bonus — in a series of payments throughout 2017, jurors found. Trump has repeatedly denied the affair.
Will Trump go to jail?
Despite being found guilty of all charges, Trump is not expected to go to prison. His crimes are nonviolent crimes, and Trump has no prior criminal record and is an older man at 77 years old. Legal experts told Business Insider that Trump will likely receive probation at his sentencing, which will take place on July 11.
Can a president pardon himself?
If Trump wins the November election, he will have access to broad pardon powers. However, this authority does not apply to this conviction. The president only has pardon power over federal charges, and Trump’s hush money trial played out in New York state court.
Can a felon run for president?
Yes. The only three requirements for presidential candidates in the U.S. Constitution are that they must be natural-born citizens, be at least 35 years old, and be a U.S. resident for at least 14 years.
The 14th Amendment also prohibits anyone from coming to power who has been involved in an insurrection against the US. Several states pushed to keep Trump off the 2024 ballot because of this provision. But earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of keeping the Republican Party frontrunner on the ballot.
Can Donald Trump still run for president?
Yes. And he has already tried to use Thursday’s guilty verdict to his advantage. The former president immediately started fundraising after the ruling.
What was Trump’s reaction to the verdict?
Trump appeared enraged by the jury’s decision, baselessly accusing the trial of “rigging” after hearing the verdict and declaring himself innocent.
“We have done nothing wrong. I am a very innocent man,” he told reporters, adding that “the real verdict will be pronounced by the people on November 5.”
What was Michael Cohen’s reaction to the verdict?
Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer who provided critical testimony in the hush money trial, celebrated the verdict, telling Business Insider it was “an important day for accountability and the rule of law.”
“Although it has been a difficult journey for me and my family, the truth always matters,” he said.
What was Biden’s reaction to the verdict?
President Joe Biden and his campaign reacted largely silently to the verdict on Thursday, acknowledging that Trump still has a path to the presidency despite the conviction.
“There is only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: through the ballot box,” Biden wrote on X.
What was Stormy Daniels’ reaction to the verdict?
Daniels, the adult film actress at the center of the whole case, has remained silent about the conviction, at least on social media. She liked an X-post from comedian Kathy Griffin on Thursday evening, who wrote: “Thank you @StormyDaniels.”
Read the original article on Business Insider
