In the hush-money trial, the former president faces guilt on 34 counts. - Donald Trump's shocking impact
Donald Trump makes history as the first ex-president to face criminal charges and the first to attempt running for office while accused. In New York, it was met with astonishment as a sea of people gathered silently before the courthouse. The atmosphere was unusually quiet, providing occasional cheers from those opposing Trump and angry protests from his supporters.
Likely Probation
Trump maintained his composure through Judge Juan Merchan's announcement, showing no emotion. His son, Eric, stood behind him, silently. Trump firmly grasped his son's hand afterwards, declaring defiantly, "I'm a very innocent man!", and criticizing the proceedings as "rigged."
While Trump may have grounds for claiming the indictment as "fabricated," as he often pointed out legal experts, he was not accused of directly influencing the 2016 election through hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Instead, prosecutors focused on an apparently minor offense, inaccurately recording the repayment of a loan to his former lawyer Michael Cohen.
The prosecutors argued that the inaccurate business records facilitated additional possible crimes, which did not need to be explicitly proven. The jury had to conclude that Trump, as characterized, was a "fixer" in a broader conspiracy.
Considering the undramatic court proceedings, scandalous details like Stormy's sex confession, David Pecker's admission of tabloid journalism practices, or Cohen's utter lies on the stand, it sounds plausible that Trump was part of a grand scheme.
Possible Impact on Election Campaign
Trump's bitter attack against Democrat Joe Biden is unlikely to be influenced by the verdict. His loyal supporters viewed the case as a "witch hunt" since its inception. The aim was to remove Trump from the race because he was seen as an unbeatable political force.
However, there are concerns among swing voters regarding voting for a convicted candidate. In a survey by NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist, 67% of respondents said the trial results would hold no impact on their voting decision.
One certainty is that Trump must now process the imagery of defeat. His success as a winner is closely tied to his image of invincibility and talent to shrug off any controversy.
Trump has been known as the "Teflon Don," implying that everything bounces off him, but now faces potential consequences.
