Trump Convicted
Trump Convicted
Despite 34 felony convictions, Donald Trump remains a formidable contender in the upcoming election.
Felony Conviction and its Consequences
Having been convicted of 34 felonies, Donald Trump cannot own a gun, hold public office, or even vote in many states. Despite this, in 158 days, voters across America will decide whether he will return to the White House to serve another four years as the nation's president.
Trump's conviction in his New York hush money trial on Thursday is a stunning development in an already unorthodox presidential election, with profound implications for the justice system and perhaps U.S. democracy itself.
Immediate Political Reactions
The immediate reaction from elected Democrats was muted by comparison, although the Biden campaign issued a fundraising appeal within minutes of the verdict, suggesting that the fundamentals of the election had not changed.
“We're THRILLED that justice has finally been served,” the campaign wrote. “But this convicted criminal can STILL win back the presidency this fall without a huge surge in Democratic support.”
Republican Party's Unified Response
In the short term, there were immediate signs that the unanimous guilty verdict was helping to unify the Republican Party’s disparate factions. GOP officials in Congress and in state capitals across the country rallied behind their presumptive presidential nominee, while his campaign expected to benefit from a flood of new fundraising dollars.
Standing outside the courtroom, Trump described the verdict as the result of a “rigged, disgraceful trial.”
“The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people," Trump said, referring to Election Day. “This is long from over.”
Strategists Predict a Muted Impact
There has been some polling conducted on the impact of a guilty verdict, although such hypothetical scenarios are notoriously difficult to predict. A recent ABC News/Ipsos poll found that only 4% of Trump’s supporters said they would withdraw their support if he’s convicted of a felony, though an additional 16% said they would reconsider it.
Trump campaign advisers argued the case would help them motivate their core supporters. So many donations came into WinRed, the platform the campaign uses for fundraising, that it crashed. Aides quickly worked to set up a backup platform to collect money pouring in.
Voters Grapple with the Verdict
Texas voter Steven Guarner, a 24-year-old nurse, said he’s undecided on who he'll vote for in the upcoming election. Guarner, an independent, said the verdict will be a deciding factor for him once he studies the details of the trial. He didn't think it would sway the many voters who are already decided on the Biden-Trump rematch, however.
“I think his base is the type that might not care much or might agree with him about the court system,” Guarner said of Trump.
Republican Responses Across the Nation
Republican officials from Florida to Wisconsin Arkansas and Illinois condemned the verdict as a miscarriage of justice by what they described as a politically motivated prosecutor and blue-state jury. Brian Schimming, chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin’s executive committee, called the case against Trump a “sham” and a “national embarrassment.”
“There was no justice in New York today,” Schimming charged.
Trump’s Campaign Strategy Moving Forward
The judge set sentencing for July 11, just four days before the scheduled start of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Each of the falsifying business records charges carries up to four years behind bars, though prosecutors have not said whether they intend to seek imprisonment.
Trump will be able to vote in Florida, where he established residency in 2019, if he is not in prison on Election Day. And imprisonment would not bar Trump from continuing his pursuit of the White House.
Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, said in a Fox News Channel interview before the verdict that Trump would still try to campaign for the presidency if convicted. If Trump is given a sentence of home confinement, she said, “We will have him doing virtual rallies and campaign events if that is the case. And we’ll have to play the hand that we’re dealt."
Conclusion
With the 2024 presidential election on the horizon, Trump's conviction has added an unprecedented twist to an already tumultuous political landscape. As both parties gear up for what promises to be a highly contentious race, the impact of this verdict on Trump's campaign and the broader political climate remains to be seen.