Covert payment arrangement. - What transpires if Donald Trump is convicted?
The historic first trial against a US President is nearing its conclusion. The defense presents their argument to the jury, followed by the prosecution. The decision then lies with the jury. It's unclear how long this process could take - ranging from a few hours to a few weeks.
Trump Might Avoid Conviction
Given the traditional jury framework, the longer the deliberation, the more challenging the decision-making process becomes, and the probability of reaching a unanimous verdict decreases. If this occurs, the trial would need to be reinstated with new jurors. The goal for Trump and his legal team seems to be a conviction triggering a mistrial.
Throughout the six-week hush money trial, experts remain uncertain in which direction the verdict will sway. Both sides have scored varying points. The explicit consent of Trump having sex with the porn star, Stormy Daniels, and the hush money payments years later by Trump's former fixer, Michael Cohen, have been thoroughly discussed. The core allegation in the indictment, that the accounting of these funds was a cover-up constituting election fraud, has not been definitively proven.
When the Jury Reaches a Verdict
To ascertain the guilt of the defendant beyond all reasonable doubt, Judge Juan Merchan provides the jurors thorough instructions regarding the interpretation of the law, as well as the evidence that supports or contradicts it.
If the jurors determine a unanimous verdict, the foreman of the jury will read it aloud, which then needs to be confirmed by Merchan. Both the defense and prosecution have the option to request the judge to overrule the jurors.
- If Trump is acquitted, he can leave the court in a triumphant manner, free from any consequences, prior to the November election, positioning himself to sell his victory as a major success and the indictment as a campaign and witch hunt.
- If Trump is found guilty, this would initially have no significant impact on him. Until sentencing, he'd likely remain on bail as a first-time offender. Under New York law, the maximum sentence for such an offense is one to four years in prison. However, individuals without a criminal record, such as Trump, are typically sentenced to fines or probation. It's even possible for Trump to be imprisoned while still serving as president.
Though, his attorneys are likely to file an appeal in this case. The outcome of the appeals court's decision - whether they concur with the verdict or overturn it - and when - before or after the presidential election - is entirely up in the air.
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- Despite the defense's closing statement, the public prosecutor's office continues to argue for a guilty verdict, linking the hush money payment to election fraud in the presidential election campaign.
- In the face of mounting criminal proceedings, Donald Trump's legal team appears to be strategically aiming for a mistrial, under the assumption that a unanimous verdict might not be reached by the grand jury.
- During the trial, the grand jury heard testimony about the hush money payment made to Stormy Daniels by Trump's former fixer, Michael Cohen, which was allegedly part of a cover-up to influence the outcome of the presidential election campaign.
- If the US President is found guilty during the court case, the grand jury will deliver a guilty verdict, triggering sentencing procedures led by Judge Juan Merchan in New York.
- Throughout the high-profile trial, the defendant and defense have argued that the alleged crime of covering up the hush money payment was not significant enough to warrant a guilty verdict in light of the president's heavy campaign responsibilities.
- In the event of a guilty verdict, despite initial consequences such as fines or probation, the president's attorneys are poised to immediately file an appeal with the intention of overturning the verdict before the upcoming presidential election.
Source: www.stern.de
