Donald Trump pleads not guilty: what are the consequences for the trial?
Former President Donald Trump pled not guilty during his arraignment on Tuesday. What do we know about the trial so far?
Donald Trump pled not guilty in a Miami federal court on Tuesday after being charged on thirty-seven counts related to the mishandling of classified material and obstructing justice. The former president has been arraigned for the second time this year. The first arraignment took place in April in New York City, where he faced charges of violating campaign finance laws.
Legal professionals from various political backgrounds who have reviewed the federal indictment, including the charges and gathered evidence, have concluded that there are very limited options for Donald Trump to demonstrate his innocence. Even Jonathan Tuley, a constitutional law attorney who is a contributor to Fox News, described the evidence in the indictment as “damning.”
The consequences of the trial...
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For Trump, the possible consequence of the trial is that he could go to federal prison. David Aaron of Just Security reported that Trump could face up to twenty-two years in prison if found guilty. If found guilty, Donald Trump would become the first former US head of state to serve time in prison.
Read more from AS USA:
It appears unlikely that Donald Trump would cease his campaign even if he receives a guilty verdict and is imprisoned. The government’s approach to a conviction will pose a political dilemma for Washington’s leaders. Although the indictment has a high evidentiary standard, the trial may be viewed as illegitimate by millions of Trump supporters, making their response to a potential conviction uncertain.