Donald Trump is currently on trial for charges related to hush money payments made before the 2016 election. The main question is:
- Will Trump lose voter support if found guilty of a felony?
- The trial is about hiding payments to a porn star to conceal their relationship
- Trump denies the charges, but the payments were made
- The jury must decide if he committed a crime to influence the 2016 election
Trump Claims Trial is “Rigged” as Jury Deliberates
After over 4 hours of discussing evidence, the New York jury went home Wednesday. They asked to re-hear testimony about a meeting with Trump’s publisher friend David Pecker and lawyer Michael Cohen.
Trump complained the “very corrupt” charges are impossible to beat, saying: “Mother Teresa could not beat these charges.” He claims the entire situation is “rigged” against him.
However, the independent judge and jury system aims to be fair and impartial. Prosecutors brought state charges alleging Trump broke election laws. Trump could have requested a speedy trial if he felt fully innocent.
Could a Felony Conviction Hurt Trump’s 2024 Chances?
Most legal experts agree that if Trump is convicted of a felony for violating campaign finance laws, it would significantly damage his chances of winning back the presidency in 2024.
Polls show independent voters who don’t affiliate with a party are much less likely to support Trump if he’s a convicted felon. Republicans may still back him, but he needs moderate swing voters in key states.
Journalist David Cay Johnston says “support falls off rapidly” for Trump if pollsters ask about voting for a felon. Though the constitution doesn’t prohibit felons from becoming president, it makes re-election an uphill battle.
Understanding the Hush Money Case
The charges involve $130,000 paid to adult film actress Stormy Daniels right before the 2016 election. Prosecutors claim this was to illegally buy her silence about an alleged affair with Trump, which he denies.
Covering up this relationship could have hurt Trump when the “Access Hollywood” tape came out with his crude sexual comments. So, the payments may have violated laws that prohibited improperly influencing an election.
However, the defense argues that Trump didn’t intend to break campaign finance rules, saying that hush money isn’t automatically illegal. The all-or-nothing “intent” issue will decide if he’s guilty or not.
Looking Ahead
Whichever way the verdict goes, the historic Trump trial marks the first time a President faced criminal charges. More cases also await him related to classified documents mishandling and efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
If acquitted, Trump will claim total vindication. If convicted, he still plans to appeal and stay in the 2024 race, hoping his base sticks with him.
Only one thing is clear: this extraordinary legal battle shows no signs of ending anytime soon for the divisive former president.
Screenshot taken from npr.org
