Donald Trump: A Conviction for the Record and as a Warning.

Donald Trump: A Conviction for the Record and as a Warning

The former President of the United States has been found guilty of thirty-four counts of accounting fraud. However, this will not end his campaign. The true judgment will be delivered on the evening of the presidential election on November 5.

A convicted felon is expected to appear on the ballot for the presidential election on November 5 in the United States. On May 30, twelve New York jurors unanimously found Donald Trump guilty of thirty-four counts of accounting fraud. These charges involved concealing from voters, during the 2016 election, payments made to silence a former adult film actress about an extramarital affair.

This conviction of a former president, the conclusion of a sordid affair, is a first in U.S. history. Yet its effects remain uncertain. The former businessman, who berated his judges as soon as the verdict was announced, has long prepared his followers by portraying himself as the martyr of a plot orchestrated by a “deep state” that he promises to purge if he returns to power. The Republican Party, which he represents and which once called itself “the party of law and order,” has long lost its moral compass and nods approvingly to each of Trump’s attacks on the foundations of American democracy.

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A testament to the resilience of a justice system before which every citizen must be accountable, the New York ruling served a useful purpose by publicly dissecting the behavior of a man who has made contempt for common rules a way of life. Ignoring the law to avoid suspicions of politicization, as advocated by the conservative camp, would have meant granting the accused an unjustifiable impunity.

The Verdict on the Night of November 5

The truth was owed to the voters of November. It is regrettable that the other cases against Donald Trump, which are far more serious, have been buried by a lenient Florida magistrate, Aileen Cannon, appointed by the Republican during his term, or inexplicably delayed by a complicit Supreme Court. The image of the Supreme Court is marred by embarrassing suspicions of partiality surrounding two of its six conservative justices, Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas.

These cases relate to Trump’s exercise of power: his attempt to overturn the 2020 election results to avoid a humiliating defeat, and his illegal retention of classified documents after leaving office despite repeated federal warnings. These issues are crucial for American citizens to make an informed decision about who will sit behind the Resolute desk in the Oval Office during particularly troubled times.

Regardless of the sentence imposed on Trump during the hearing scheduled for July 11, it will not end his presidential campaign. The real judgment will come on the night of November 5. In the recent past, despite Joe Biden’s known vulnerabilities, Trump’s unsuitability for the presidency, confirmed in part by the New York verdict, would have been clear-cut.

Celebrity Reactions

The former president was found guilty of accounting fraud involving payments to former porn star Stormy Daniels to buy her silence. From Caitlyn Jenner to Robert De Niro, Hollywood has spoken out.

While schadenfreude should be avoided, many celebrities couldn’t hide their joy at Trump’s conviction, who was a star-system personality before entering politics, hosting Miss Universe and the reality show The Apprentice. Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of accounting fraud for buying the silence of inconvenient witnesses, including Stormy Daniels.

Celebrities repeatedly highlighted the number 34. John Cusack declared, “The criminal traitor and fool is now a convicted criminal – 34 times. Now, what will the judge do with Trump’s contempt violations?”

Mark Hamill, the iconic Skywalker from Star Wars, took pleasure in repeating “guilty” 34 times in red on Twitter. John Leguizamo celebrated with a video of a cheering crowd at the verdict announcement, saying, “We applaud justice and the fact that no one is above the law!”

Not all stars were celebrating. Caitlyn Jenner, a Kardashian family pillar and Trump supporter, called it a “scandalous day for America” and echoed Trump’s claims of a plot against him.

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The sentence, ranging from fines to up to four years per charge, will be pronounced on July 11. Whether free or in prison, Trump can still run in the November election, and if elected, govern from a cell. The U.S. Constitution doesn’t bar convicted individuals from running for office, creating potential security challenges if he were imprisoned, as former presidents have lifelong Secret Service protection.

Despite the unprecedented verdict, Trump remains in the presidential race, facing Joe Biden. If he wins, he can take office in January 2025, regardless of the status of his appeal. He cannot pardon himself from state charges.

The Manhattan court will announce the sentence on July 11, four days before the Republican Party convention, likely confirming Trump as their candidate. Trump insists the “real verdict” will come from voters on November 5, using his conviction to fundraise for his campaign.