Can Trump still run for US Presidentials 2024 after being arrested?

Donald Trump predicted nearly two weeks ago that he would be arrested by New York prosecutors for allegedly paying porn star Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about their affair as to not harm his presidential campaign in 2016. While he had the timing wrong on when he would be arrested, he was right about being in legal jeopardy.

On Thursday last week, it was reported that the grand jury convened by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to investigate the hush-money payments has voted to indict the former president and front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination for 2024. He will be arraigned at the Manhattan Criminal Court on Tuesday where he will hear the charges against him, reportedly around 30 counts including felonies which carry possible jail time.

Once he’s been arrested though, will he still be able to run for president?

Could Trump still run for president if he is arrested?

The prospect of Trump’s arrest has led to questions about his presidential candidacy, since he has been campaigning to be the Republican bet for the White House seat in 2024.

As it turns out, being arrested for or even convicted of a crime does not disqualify a person from running for the highest office in the United States. There is no particular law or constitutional provision that prohibits a convicted or arrested person from being a presidential candidate.

The U.S. Constitution only outlines three requirements to be eligible to become president. First, that the person be a natural-born citizen of the country; second, that the person be at least 35 years old; and third, that the person have U.S. residency for at least 14 years.

Legally, there would be no impediment to Trump’s efforts to return to office. The biggest obstacle he will face now that the Manhattan district attorney has decided to indict him will be the physical and time limitations that the trial will involve. However, the actual trial date won’t be know for some time.

But generally in New York, it can take over a year to move from indictment to trial for the average criminal case according to former Manhattan Chief Assistant District Attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo. However, this is likely not going to be a typical criminal case by any stretch of the imagination, not only that it is the first time a former president, or sitting president, has faced criminal charges, it involves Trump.