The 12 jurors delivered a historic verdict in New York yesterday, finding Donald Trump guilty across the board, making him the very first president to be convicted of a criminal offense.
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• Read also: If Donald Trump is imprisoned, it will be “the end of his political career”, says Jean-Marc Léger
“It’s a rigged trial and a shame,” declared Donald Trump as he left the court yesterday afternoon, affirming that the real verdict would be rendered at the polls next November, during the election.
After six weeks of trial, the former President of the United States was found guilty of the 34 counts against him in the Stormy Daniels affair, namely crimes of falsification of accounting documents, intended to hide a payment of $130,000 (C$178,000) to the porn actress to avoid a sex scandal at the end of her 2016 presidential campaign.
This announcement creates a real earthquake for the former American president in the middle of the race for the White House, who quickly boasted of being a “political prisoner” a few minutes after the verdict in a fundraising campaign.
“A former president convicted of a criminal offense, we have never seen that, it’s historic. The jury took its time and did not take this lightly because it is historic and could have consequences for the November elections,” explains Frédérick Gagnon, director of the Observatory on the United States. United and holder of the Raoul-Dandurand Chair.
- Listen to American politics specialist Donald Cuccioletta’s late-breaking reaction with Mario Dumont on QUB:
A guilty candidate
Despite the verdict, the 77-year-old Republican could still be a candidate in the November presidential election against Democrat Joe Biden, even if sentenced to prison.
His sentence, set by Judge Juan Merchan, whom Trump called “corrupt” outside the courtroom throughout the trial, is expected to be known on July 11.
In theory, he faces up to four years in prison, which could possibly be accompanied by a fine. But the magistrate can also impose a suspended prison sentence or even community service. The Republican tycoon’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, has already announced that his client will appeal, which will further drag out the proceedings.
What consequence?
The verdict casts an enormous fog over the coming weeks: it is impossible to predict the effects that this conviction will have, experts agree.
“Several pollsters said that the fact that he was found guilty could cause him to lose a few points in the polls, but for the moment, there is not much that has affected Mr. Trump,” said Mr. Gagnon.
However, “if he is imprisoned, his entire aura of invincibility will fall,” thinks Jean-Marc Léger, president of the Léger polling firm.
“If we see Donald Trump in handcuffs and taken to prison, it’s over: he lost the presidential election,” he adds.
Otherwise, we should expect little impact for Trump and his electoral campaign. If the ex-president remains free, his popularity rating will be little affected by this guilty verdict, believes Mr. Léger.
The ex-president is still busy in other procedures, notably in the assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, the overturning of the election results in Georgia or even the classified documents file.
– With AFP
The ex-president will use the verdict
Former President Donald Trump will undoubtedly use the historic verdict against him to boost his campaign and continue to show that the world is against him.
“He will continue to say and repeat to all those who love him that this clearly shows that the system is against him, that the democratic elites are against him and that we must continue the fight until November (the elections) and afterwards,” explains Frédérick Gagnon, director of the Observatory on the United States and holder of the Raoul-Dandurand Chair.
As soon as he left the court yesterday afternoon, Donald Trump immediately began to take advantage of the verdict and the trial.
Very innocent
“It was a rigged trial, by a judge who was corrupt,” the billionaire told journalists directly, insisting that he was a “very innocent man.”
“The real verdict will be on November 5 by the people,” Mr. Trump continued. And they (the people) know what happened here, and everyone knows what happened here. »
Looking serious, but calm, Donald Trump wanted to show an image of strength and appear impassive yesterday, noted Mr. Gagnon.
“He’s trying to show that it doesn’t affect him. But Trump is someone who, when attacked, wants to respond. So he will continue to attack the judge with great force, while insisting that everything was working against him in this trial,” believes the director of the Chair Raoul-Dandurant.
– With AFP
WHAT THEY SAID
“ This is an important day for the rule of law and accountability. (…) Although it was difficult for me and my family, the truth always matters. »
– Michael Cohen, key prosecution witness, on X
“ There’s only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Donate to our campaign today. »
– President Joe Biden, on
“ Today is a day of shame in American history. Democrats applaud the conviction of the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges, based on the testimony of a convicted and disbarred (attorney). This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one. »
– Mike Johnson, Republican leader of the House of Representatives
