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!"
