Unlike Brazil, in the United States, a person who has been criminally convicted can run for president and assume the office if elected.
That is the case with Donald Trump. In addition to the historic victory at the polls in 2024, Trump will soon add another milestone to his resume: The only president of the United States to be criminally convicted.Recalling the case
Trump faced a case with 34 charges that primarily involved a payment to a porn model to keep her quiet about an alleged sexual affair with the then-Republican presidential candidate in 2016. To cover up the payment, New York prosecutors proved that Trump and his allies falsified financial records of their companies, which is a crime in the state. The elected president was convicted on all 34 criminal charges of falsifying business records in May of this year. At the request of Trump’s lawyers, the sentencing was postponed to November 26 of this year, that is, after the elections.And now? What happens with the case?
The judge may proceed with the sentencing as planned, despite Trump’s victory at the polls, after all, the justice system will not want to give the impression that winning an election can place someone above the country’s justice.
But legal experts say it is extremely unlikely that Trump will be sentenced to prison. This is partly because, in addition to his advanced age, he is a first-time offender.
And even if he were, his lawyers would immediately appeal the sentence, arguing that a prison sentence would prevent him from performing official duties and that he should remain free while awaiting the appeal. And the appeals process could take years and years.
So, in the end, what will happen to Trump? Nothing! At most, he will pay a fine and everything will continue normally.
Emphasizing that Trump is not only responding to this case. There are three other cases pending in court. One involves his indirect participation in the Capitol invasion and the attempt to prevent the elected president (Joe Biden) from taking office in January 2021. The second accuses Trump of having taken confidential government documents when leaving the White House. The last one is happening in Georgia, where the elected president is accused of trying to overturn the legitimate elections in the state of Georgia in 2020.
Experts believe that none of these cases will proceed while Trump is in office.Source: BBC News and NBC News