Donald Trump found guilty: What awaits the former US president after his historic criminal conviction

Donald Trump will be able to continue campaigning to take back the White House from his Democratic successor Joe Biden. MAXPPP – Michael M. Santiago

Having become on Thursday May 30, 2024 the first former American president convicted of criminal charges, Donald Trump will nevertheless be able to continue campaigning to take back the White House from his Democratic successor Joe Biden.

Paradoxically, while he fulminated at each of his appearances that the trial was taking him away from the campaign four days a week since April 15, with this verdict he recovers his entire freedom of maneuver, at least until July 11.

Because Judge Juan Merchan set the pronouncement of his sentence for July 11 at 10:00 a.m. in the New York court (2:00 p.m. GMT), four days before the convention which will officially induct him as Republican candidate for the presidency. ;presidential election of November 5. The judge let him go free without requiring bail.

He gave the defense until June 13 to present its arguments for sentencing and until June 27 for the prosecution to do so. answer.

The New York prosecutor who investigated the case, Alvin Bragg, who welcomed the verdict on Thursday evening, did not wish to indicate whether the prosecution intended to request prison time.

Prison farm

Donald Trump theoretically faces prison time, with falsification of accounting documents punishable by a maximum of four years in New York State.

But in the absence of any criminal record of the accused, who will be 78 years old at the time of sentencing, the judge should instead sentence him to a prison sentence with suspended probation, or to community service, as well as possibly to a fine.

In any case, Donald Trump has one month to notify his intention to appeal, announced on Thursday evening by his lawyers, and then several months to do so officially.

This appeal will most likely have a suspensive effect on his sentence, particularly in the event of prison time. And a possible trial and appeal are unlikely to be held before the presidential election.

This criminal conviction, any more than a possible prison sentence, does not invalidate his candidacy in any case. If he wins, he will be able to take office in January 2025. On the other hand, he will not be able to pardon himself or order the abandonment of these proceedings since he is # This is a New York State proceeding, not a federal one.

At the end of the trial, Donald Trump repeated that the "true verdict" would not be that of the twelve New York jurors but of tens of millions of American voters on November 5.