In the event of Trump being sentenced to prison, he has issued a warning.
"I believe the public would have difficulty tolerating it at some point," shared the 77-year-old candidate, who is tipped to contest the presidency on behalf of the Republicans against Democratic incumbent Joe Biden on November 5th.
Concerns are high in the US regarding potential politically-driven violence surrounding the election on November 5th. Trump, convicted as a criminal since May 30th, has hinted several times that he will not concede defeat.
He has repeatedly alleged that his 2020 loss against Biden was caused by fraud. This escalating tension in the months after the election culminated in Trump supporters attacking the Capitol in Washington on January 6th, resulting in five fatalities.
Congressman Adam Schiff from the Democratic party claimed this strategy. Schiff, on CNN and a committee investigator of the Capitol raid, stated, "At its crux, that's his threat: if he confronts a jail sentence, he'll encourage his backers to revolt." Reminding of the fatal consequences seen on January 6th, he added.
Trump spoke of his wife Melania's struggles during this process. Regarding her, he told Fox News, "She's doing well, but I think it's tough for her. She needs to read all this rubbish."
Trump made history as the first former US president to be found guilty in a criminal trial. The jury declared him guilty of all 34 charges relating to hush money in the $130,000 payment facilitated to former porn actor Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. The goal was to hide an alleged affair and then obscure that payment through falsified business documents.
The then-alleged affair between Trump and Stormy Daniels, which he still denies, prompted her to remain silent. The sentencing is set for July 11th.
While a prison sentence remains conceivable, legal experts anticipate more likely probation, a fine, or even community service.
Trump criticized the case as "incredibly unfair." Shortly after the guilty verdict, his campaign issued a fundraising notice that proclaimed, "I am a political prisoner!"
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The 77-year-old Republican candidate, who is expected to challenge Joe Biden in the November 5th presidential election in the USA, reportedly shared concerns about public tolerance if Trump were to be sentenced to prison. Trump, who was convicted of criminal charges on May 30th, has implied that he may not concede defeat in the presidential election against Biden.
This escalating tension post-election led to Trump supporters storming the Capitol in Washington on January 6th, resulting in five fatalities. The Democrats, including Congressman Adam Schiff, have accused Trump of threatening to incite violence if he faces a jail sentence.
Trump's wife, Melania, has reportedly struggled with the situation, as Trump shared on Fox News. The former US president was found guilty of all 34 charges in the hush money case involving Stormy Daniels, which he still denies, and the sentencing is scheduled for July 11th.
Legal experts predict a more likely outcome of probation, a fine, or community service rather than a prison sentence for Trump. In response to his conviction, Trump criticized the case as "incredibly unfair" and declared himself a "political prisoner" in a fundraising notice issued by his campaign.
Republicans, including Trump, have expressed support for his fight against the case, with some even suggesting that the verdict may boost his popularity within the party. Fox News, a prominent right-wing media outlet, has been a strong advocate for Trump, regularly airing his views and defending him against the criminal charges.
Conversely, the Democratic party and their allies have urged caution, warning of the potentially dangerous consequences if Trump incites his supporters to violence if he faces a prison sentence. "At its core, that's his threat," Schiff said, "If he confronts a jail sentence, he'll encourage his backers to revolt."
As the case unfolds and the sentencing approaches, the tension between the parties in the USA continues to escalate, with significant implications for the upcoming election and the political landscape in the world's leading democracy.
