GUWAHATI: Donald Trump has become the first ex-U.S. president to be convicted of a felony. The conviction stems from charges in the hush money case involving a payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
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The guilty verdict carries significant implications for Trump, who is currently the leading candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. He is scheduled for sentencing on July 11, just a week before the Republican National Convention.
Trump's attorney, Todd Blanche, announced that the legal team plans to "vigorously fight" the verdict with upcoming motions. If these efforts are unsuccessful, they intend to appeal after sentencing. However, it is unlikely that the appeals process will be resolved before the November election.
Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over the case, will determine Trump's sentence. Each of the 34 charges, all classified as Class E felonies—the least severe in New York—carries a potential prison term of up to four years. Alternatively, Trump could be sentenced to probation, which would require regular reporting to a probation officer. Any further criminal activity while on probation could lead to imprisonment.
Legal expert Dan Horwitz, a former prosecutor with the Manhattan District Attorney's office, indicated that the judge has various sentencing options, including a short jail term or probationary conditions such as weekend jail time.
Despite his felony conviction, Trump remains eligible to run for president. His ability to vote for himself, however, depends on state-specific laws regarding felons' voting rights. Having moved his residency to Florida post-presidency, Trump's voting rights hinge on New York's laws, which only disenfranchise individuals during their prison sentence. If Trump avoids prison time, his voting rights would be restored, allowing him to vote in Florida.
Trump's conviction includes 34 counts of falsifying business records related to the $130,000 hush money payment made to Daniels to conceal an alleged affair. While he faces three additional criminal cases, none are expected to reach a conclusion before the November election.
