Donald Trump, now the first U.S. president with a felony conviction, faces a unique situation as he steps into office while dealing with several legal battles.
His win raises big questions about how America’s legal and political systems will handle a president facing serious charges, as Reuters explains.
Trump’s legal troubles cover four main areas. First, there’s the New York hush-money case. In May, Trump was convicted of falsifying business records related to payments to an adult film star.
According to Reuters, even though Judge Juan Merchan postponed sentencing until after the election, experts believe Trump’s age and first-time status make prison time unlikely. But if he does face jail, his lawyers plan to appeal, which could delay things for years.
Another major case is about his actions on January 6, 2021, as Trump tried to overturn the 2020 election results. Although the case has been on hold after a Supreme Court decision, prosecutor Jack Smith recently revived it.
However, with Trump as president, Reuters says he’s protected from criminal prosecution while in office. Former prosecutor Neama Rahmani expects the case to be dropped, and Trump has even said he would fire Smith if needed.
A third case involves Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents after leaving office, with accusations he kept sensitive files at his Mar-a-Lago home.
Reuters notes that Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed these charges in July, arguing that Smith’s appointment by the Justice Department wasn’t proper. If Smith’s appeal doesn’t go through, this case, too, is likely to end.
Finally, Trump is accused of trying to overturn election results in Georgia, but Reuters explains that this case could be put on hold or dismissed entirely due to Trump’s presidency.
His lawyer Steve Sadow argued that, under the law, Trump’s duties as president would protect him from trial until he finishes his term.
This situation, as Reuters highlights, puts the country in uncharted territory, testing both the strength of U.S. democracy and Trump’s ability to govern while handling his legal issues.
Credit : Reuters