Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 charges in his recent criminal trial. The key points:
- Trump was convicted of hiding hush money payments as business expenses
- The charges were about breaking record-keeping laws, not campaign finance laws
- Many people think this guilty verdict will actually help Trump get elected president again
- His campaign received tons of new donations right after the guilty verdict
Do you want to know more about why Trump was convicted and what it could mean for his future? Keep reading!
What Was Trump Convicted Of?
Trump was convicted of violating record-keeping laws in New York State. Specifically:
- He paid money to two women to keep them from sharing stories that could have hurt his 2016 election campaign
- Instead of listing those payments correctly in his business records, he disguised them as something else
- This hid the real reason for the payments, which is considered a crime
Trump argued the charges were just minor bookkeeping issues with his private business records. However, prosecutors said hiding the true reasons for the payments violated campaign finance laws.
“It’s a Joke,” Says Trump Advisor
Hal Lambert is a Republican advisor who worked closely with Trump. Lambert calls the guilty verdict “a joke” and a “Mickey Mouse deal.”
“It was his own money, his own business records,” Lambert said. “How does mis-categorizing something affect the election outcome if it’s not public?”
Lambert believes the prosecutors and jury were extremely biased against Trump from the start. He thinks the case never should have been allowed to go to trial.
Will Guilty Verdict Actually Help Trump?
Despite being convicted of 34 criminal charges, Trump and his supporters think the verdict could boost his chances of becoming president again in 2024.
Right after the guilty verdict, Trump’s campaign reported its fundraising websites crashed because so many people were trying to donate money at once.
Lambert predicts Trump’s poll numbers with voters will go up, just like after previous charges against him:
“Every time they went after him with new charges, his poll numbers went higher,” Lambert stated. “His poll numbers will go higher after this.”
Lambert also pointed out that many Americans are frustrated with the economy under President Biden. In his view, voters upset about inflation and the cost of living will back Trump.
What’s Next for Trump?
The guilty verdict will certainly be appealed to higher courts. That process could take a long time to play out.
Trump’s sentencing date of July 11 puts it right at the start of the Republican National Convention. So he may have to be in New York for sentencing instead of kicking off his expected 2024 campaign at the convention.
There are also big questions about whether Trump could receive presidential briefings and perform all duties while being a convicted felon.
In the end, the political implications of Trump’s conviction are still unclear. Only time will tell how it truly impacts his chances of winning back the presidency.
What do you think? Does this guilty verdict hurt or help Trump’s 2024 election prospects? Let me know your thoughts!
