Donald Trump’s six-week trial finally ended last week as a jury deliberated for roughly nine and a half hours before reaching the ‘guilty’ verdict for the former POTUS. Before the end of the trial, many experts predicted what could happen to him. Ultimately, Trump was found guilty of all 34 felony counts in his hush money trial.
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His sentencing is scheduled for 11 July, just four days before the Republican National Convention (RNC) - where he could possibly be made the official GOP presidential candidate. However, Trump is expected to appeal the verdict. According to The Independent, both sides can file motions in the case until 13 June. But the bigger question is: could Trump go to prison after the guilty verdict in hush money trial? Let’s find out!
Could Donald Trump serve jail time after ‘guilty’ verdict?
Theoretically speaking, Trump could face more than a decade in prison, according to CNN chief legal analyst Laura Coates. It was previously revealed that the US Secret Service has already started planning for this potential outcome.
Trump was charged with 34 counts of falsification of business records in the first degree, which is a felony in New York. Falsification of business records becomes a felony if it can be proved that the offender intended to commit another crime or aid or conceal another crime when falsifying records. In Trump’s case, this meant that he used the falsification for election conspiracy, campaign finance and tax law violations.
The 34 charges were stepped up from misdemeanours to class E felonies. The maximum prison sentence for a class E felony is four years, as per the New York state law. The law imposes a 20-year sentence cap for this type of offence. Trump has no prior criminal record and the 34 crimes are also non-violent in nature. Meaning, it is less likely he will face jail time.
Given the nature of his crimes in Stormy Daniels' case, he’s likely to receive a lighter sentence. New York Justice Juan Merchan could impose penalties such as fines, probation or conditional discharge instead of jail time.
Trump reveals he is okay with serving jail time
Meanwhile, CNN reports that the former President has given his go-ahead to potential jail time or house arrest. Speaking to Fox News over the weekend, Trump told them he’s ‘OK’ with serving potential jail time or house arrest after being the first US president to be convicted of a crime. He said:
I’m OK with it. I saw one of my lawyers the other day on television saying, ‘Oh no, you don’t want to do that to the president.’ I said: You don’t beg for anything.
However, he believes that the public won’t take his jail time that easily. He added:
I don’t think the public would stand it. I’m not sure the public would stand for it.
I think it would be tough for the public to take, you know, at a certain point, there’s a breaking point.
As Trump faces one of the biggest trials of his life, his daughter Ivanka Trump, who is speculated to make a political comeback, has shown the clearest sign of support to him. The 42-year-old may have been absent from the courtroom during the trials, but soon after the verdict, she was quick to show her support for him.
The Express confirms that Ivanka took to Instagram and posted a throwback picture of herself with her dad. In the photo, Trump can be seen holding a young Ivanka who’s wearing a pink party hat. Ivanka wrote ‘I love you dad’ over the picture to show she stands behind him in these testing times.
How has Donald Trump’s guilty verdict affected Melania Trump?
Not just Ivanka, but the former First Lady Melania Trump was also notably absent from the trials. While Ivanka posted an Instagram story, Melania and Barron are understood to have arrived in New York to comfort Trump. The two were already in the city when the verdict was read last week, reports The Express. However, it’s not clear when exactly the two arrived.
Trump also told Fox News over the weekend that the trial has been ‘tougher’ on Melania and his family than him. Speaking of the legal battle, He said:
She's fine, but I think it's very hard for her. I mean, she's fine. But it's, you know, she has to read all this cr*p.
It's very hard for her. It's tougher, I think it's probably in many ways, it's tougher on my family than it is on me.
The trial included lurid details of his alleged meetings with Stormy Daniels. Details like Trump greeting her in silk pyjamas at his hotel suite and the allegation that he didn’t wear protection when the two had sex is believed to be ‘very hard’ for Melania to bear, reports BBC. Trump, on the other hand, regarded the trial as ‘rigged and politically motivated’ as he vowed his success will be seen by everyone at the upcoming November US election when he wins again.
As Melania has a lot to deal with currently, former adult star Stormy Daniels has shared a piece of advice for her.
Stormy Daniel's advice for Melania
Speaking to the Mirror, she urged the former top model to leave Trump. The case has put Trump and Melania’s 19-year-old marriage in the limelight and raised many questions about it. Accusations that Trump cheated on her just a year after their marriage with Stormy also happen to make things worse for the couple.
However, Stormy believes that it’s not cheating that should prompt Melania to leave Trump but the fact that he’s a ‘convicted felon’ now should do the deed. She shared:
I don't know what their agreement may or may not be, but Melania needs to leave him. Not because of what he did with me or other women but because he is a convicted felon.
It's been proven he is abusive; he was found liable for sexual assault and tax fraud and is now a criminal. He's neither Teflon Don nor Teflon Con anymore.
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⋙ Donald Trump's hush money case is putting the spotlight on marriage with Melania
Sources Used
The Independent: What prison sentence could Trump face following guilty conviction in hush money trial?
CNN: Trump says he’s ‘OK’ with serving potential jail time or house arrest after historic conviction
Express: Ivanka Trump breaks silence with four-word message after Donald found guilty
Express: Melania Trump jets to New York with Barron to comfort Donald after guilty verdict
BBC: Donald Trump says hush-money trial 'very hard' on wife Melania
Mirror: Stormy Daniels urges Melania Trump to leave husband Donald now - for two reasons
