In a shocking turn of events, Donald Trump has been indicted for a third time this year on federal accusations connected to attempting to influence the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.
But if convicted of the alleged crimes, might the former president, who is still the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, return to the Oval Office? Simply said, absolutely.
Richard L. Hasen, a law professor at the University of California, Los Angeles and one of the country’s foremost experts on election law, has claimed that Trump can still become president if he wins reelection in 2024.
Being at least 35 years old is one of the Constitution’s few prerequisites for the presidency. He told AWN through email that anyone might be indicted, convicted, or even serving jail time and still run for president.
If a president were imprisoned, could he or she still do their job? That’s a bit murkier.
Hasen noted that the possibility of a president serving from behind bars has not yet been explored.
If Trump were to be found guilty, might he pardon himself or have the case dropped?
Trump is now being charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, obstruction of justice, obstruction of an official process, and conspiracy against rights.
There are also 34 felony criminal charges of falsifying business records in Manhattan related to an alleged hush money payment scheme and cover-up involving an adult film star, and a total of 40 counts in a separate federal indictment related to the investigation into the mishandling of classified documents by the special counsel.
Hasen speculates that if Trump were to be convicted before the 2024 election and still win, he might try to pardon himself.
It hasn’t been shown whether or not he can. There may be a need for a ruling from the Supreme Court,” Hasen said, adding that Trump could take his case to the conservative court if he were convicted.
Trump’s Department of Justice might throw it out.
Jack Smith, the special counsel, has promised media a “speedy trial,” but if Trump were to be elected before the trial was over, he might be able to drop the charges against him.
After Trump’s indictment in the classified documents case in June, Robert Ray, who defended Trump in his first impeachment trial, said on AWN that the former president “would control the Justice Department” if reelected, adding that if the documents case was pending at the time, “he just dismisses the case.”
When asked by AWN’s Kaitlan Collins about the latest indictment, Trump defence attorney John Lauro estimated that a trial may take “nine months to a year.”
Even though Lauro needs to see the proof, he will give his client as much time as any other citizen of the United States. He affirmed the right to due process for all citizens, including the outgoing president.
Would Trump be able to vote if he were to be convicted?
If Trump were to be convicted of a felony in either New York or the federal courts, he would be ineligible to vote in Florida, where he currently resides.
