Trump convicted. What happens now?
At 5pm Italian time, the tycoon will speak from Trump Tower
Key points
Donald Trump is the first former US president to be criminally convicted. Judged guilty of 34 counts of falsifying corporate documents, the tycoon's case raises more question marks than answers. And while Judge Juan M. Merchan has scheduled sentencing for 11 July, the country anxiously awaits the implications of this verdict. Meanwhile, at 5pm Italian time Trump will speak from Trump Tower.
context of conviction
During the trial, which took place in the New York State Supreme Court, Trump was found guilty of falsifying business documents in connection with a $130,000 payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels. A scandal emerged shortly before the 2016 presidential election, with the tycoon accused of concealing the payment to influence the election result.
The legal consequences immediately visible
Judge Merchan indicated that the sentence could includeup to four years in prison for each of the offences, although probation or home detention is also possible. The decision will depend on many factors, including Trump's lack of criminal record and his status and conduct during the trial.
Political implications of the ruling
Despite the conviction, there are no legal barriers preventing Trump fromrunning for president again. The US Constitution does not explicitly preclude convicted felons from holding public office, including that of president.
Trump's right to vote
An immediate complication for Trump is his ability to vote in the next election. Being registered in Florida, state law requires felons to serve their full sentence, including probation, before regaining the right to vote. The tycoon, in other words, could be prevented from voting for himself unless he benefits from a judicial decision applying the more permissive rules of New York, where the conviction took place.
