It was an unprecedented process from the start. Never before had a US presidential candidate found himself in the defendant’s dock, let alone in four different trials. After 12 hours, the jury found Donald Trump guilty on 35 charges of falsifying business records to conceal his relationship with the porn star Stormy Daniels.
According to constitutional experts, the conviction does not preclude him from running for the presidency or even serving if elected. And that’s something that has never happened before, plunging the US into uncharted political waters. The American former president insists he is innocent and will appeal, continuing his election campaign as usual. The penalty imposed on him on June 11th will likely be a hefty fine, and due to his clean criminal record and age, he will avoid imprisonment.
Perhaps someone else would have second thoughts and withdraw. But Donald Trump refuses to back down. He presents himself as a political prisoner persecuted by the Democrats and President Joe Biden, rallying his supporters in the process. He has even gone as far as comparing himself to Nelson Mandela, claiming that because he is accused of various crimes, he is akin to the South African democratic icon.
Political Implications
Moderate Republican voters may think twice about supporting a convicted felon, as they say in America. However, the same doesn’t hold true for his staunch supporters. Despite being under indictment, polls had him leading in the presidential race. One can imagine how fervently Trump supporters will rush to his aid now that they believe he’s unfairly targeted. The thought that he might have actually done something illegal is out of the question; they won’t entertain it.
They are ready to take up arms and resort to violence to defend him, or at least that’s what they wrote on social media after his conviction. They will continue to pledge allegiance to him, believing he can “Make America Great Again” and that he is the best politician because he intervened to restrict abortion rights. Donald Trump’s conviction is likely to work in his favor.
