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  • Writer's pictureLolita Chowdhury
    • Jun 28, 2023
    • 2 min read

Trump’s Indictment and the Impact on his Presidential Campaign


Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s indictment on seven criminal counts could have significant impacts as he aims for the country’s highest office once again (Tingey Injury Law Firm, Unsplash).


Former U.S. President Donald Trump is the only former president in United States history to be indicted on criminal charges. While the indictment is under seal, Trump’s lawyer revealed he had been charged with seven criminal counts. The charges include obstruction of justice, conspiracy, and violations of the Espionage Act, which prohibits gathering information about national defense with the intent to harm the United States or benefit another country. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges.


What are the Details of the Case?


During an interview with Fox News on June 19, Trump attempted to justify his delay in returning government records that officials had requested for several months. He explained that he needed to sort through boxes containing those documents to retrieve his personal belongings.


Meanwhile, the two lawyers who represented Trump months before the indictment, Jim Trusty and John Rowley, unexpectedly quit on June 9. In a joint statement, Trusty and Rowley stated this was “a logical moment” to do so, given the indictment the day before. Trump has since announced that he will be represented by Todd Blanche, his lawyer in the criminal case brought before the Manhattan Supreme Court that claims that Trump falsified business records relating to the hush money payment to pornstar Stormy Daniels in 2016.


A federal judge in Florida has set August 14th as the date for the criminal trial of former President Trump. However, legal experts believe the trial will likely not start this early due to concerns that certain legal issues may not be resolved in time for a jury to assemble. Still, if the trial date is kept, it would be slightly more than a week before the first GOP presidential debate for the 2024 U.S. Presidential elections. If convicted, the highest counts carry a 20-year prison sentence.


What will this Indictment Mean for Trump’s Presidential Campaign?


When Trump was first indicted on criminal charges in New York, his presidential campaign saw a significant surge in donations. However, many analysts believe that while Trump’s indictment may not hurt his standing with Republican primary voters, it may hurt his standing among general election voters, which include moderates and independents.


If Trump won the U.S. 2024 presidential election, it is unlikely prosecutors would proceed with the case because the Department of Justice has a decades-old policy that sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted. However, in the meantime, Trump is free to campaign for the general elections next year in November.


 



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