Trump risks up to a life sentence in prison. Will he still be allowed to run for US president?
Donald Trump will face two trials prior to the 2024 US election, the decision from Judge Aileen Cannon confirmed on Friday. Cannon will conduct the trial regarding Trump’s alleged document mishandling.
Trump’s legal team tried to postpone the trial beginning until after the election. But Judge Cannon refused and set the starting date for May 2024.
Donald Trump is the most prominent Republican candidate for the 2024 election. His main opponent in the primaries, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, is currently behind in the polls. Incumbent President Joe Biden, on the other hand, is currently ahead of both.
US elections follow two main rounds. During the first round, known as the "primaries", the opposition party votes for its presidential candidate. In this case, the Republicans are in the opposition.
It takes several months for the primaries to take place. When the trial starts, on May 20th, Pennsylvania (an important swing state) will have already voted. Other crucial electoral states, including Nevada, Colorado, Ohio, New Mexico, and Michigan will all vote after the trial begins.
In July 2024, the Republican party will officially select its presidential nominee, who will run against Joe Biden in the November election.
The trial beginning on May 20th, however, will only be the second legal proceeding against Donald Trump next year. In March, the trial concerning Trump’s alleged hush money to adult actress Stormy Daniels will take place.
Trump was indicted for a third time earlier this week, but no date has been set for a trial yet.
What does Trump risk
Donald Trump was indicted for the first time in March. Regarding that investigation, the former US president faces seven charges and up to 4 years in prison. Charges include misappropriation of campaign funds, allegedly used to bribe Stormy Daniels to hide her love affair with Trump.
This trial will take place in New York, and the judge presiding over it is a well-known Democratic supporter. Nevertheless, experts believe it is unlikely Trump will be sentenced to prison.
In Trump’s second indictment, whose trial will start in May 2024, the former president has been charged with 37 federal crimes. In this case, Trump is accused of withholding classified documents from his private residents after he left office. This accusation, if proven true, could cost Trump up to 20 years in prison.
Finally, Trump’s third indictment is also the most serious, concerning his alleged role in fueling the January 6th, 2021 assault on the Washington Capitol. Though the trial has not been set yet, these charges could result in a life sentence in prison, as they pose a high risk to American democracy itself.
In short, Trump risks much more than simply losing the 2024 election. That is, of course, if he will be allowed to run at all.
