New York hush money case | Former President Donald Trump convicted on 34 felony charges
Can Former President Donald Trump still run for president?
New York hush money case | In a major landmark legal decision and following the verdict of New York jury’s, former President Donald Trump has been convicted on 34 felony charges related to the high-profile hush money case, raising pertinent questions about his future political endeavours and voting rights.
The jury found him guilty of all 34 counts of manipulating business records to conceal a payment. He could face up to four years in prison for each offense, but he is more likely to receive probation.
The 77-year-old Republican, who was released without bail, is now a felon, a historic and surprising first in a country where presidents are sometimes referred to as the most powerful man on the planet.
As the verdict reverberates across political circles, one of the most pressing inquiries emerges: Can a convicted felon run for president?
Presidential Eligibility
The US Constitution stipulates three prerequisites for presidential candidates: being a natural-born citizen, at least 35 years old, and having at least 14 years of US residency, all of which Donald Trump meets. Although the 14th Amendment restricts individuals involved in insurrection, invoking this special law would require Congress's action, which is improbable in the current political climate.
Sentencing
Judge Juan Merchan has scheduled Trump's sentencing for July 11, strategically just four days before the Republican National Convention begins in Milwaukee. While there is speculation about the possibility of a prison sentence, CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig notes that most Class E felony convictions in New York do not result in incarceration.
As a former president, Trump is entitled to lifetime Secret Service protection, ensuring his security regardless of legal outcomes. The idea of a presidential campaign from a prison cell is not without precedent; in 1920, socialist leader Eugene Debs ran for president from a federal prison in Atlanta during his 10-year sentence for sedition.
Can Trump still run for president?
Despite his conviction, Trump remains eligible to run for president, though his voting rights post-conviction raise questions. State laws govern felons' voting rights, with Vermont and Maine allowing voting from prison.
Trump's residency in Florida adds complexity, as the state's 2018 referendum to restore voting rights to convicted felons includes requirements to pay fines and fees associated with their sentences. Despite the state's ongoing efforts to streamline eligibility confirmation for formerly incarcerated individuals, confusion persists regarding fee requirements, hindering many from exercising their right to vote