Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican Party nominee for the November 2024 US presidential election, frequently finds himself in the courtroom. In January 2024, a New York jury ruled that he must pay writer E. Jean Carroll millions of dollars in damages for sexually abusing and then defaming her. Trump is appealing this decision, which stemmed from a civil case.
Now, Trump has made history as the first former US President to be convicted of criminal charges. The case focused on whether he paid hush money to suppress stories about an alleged extramarital sexual encounter with a porn star in order to protect his 2016 presidential campaign.
This trial is the first of four criminal trials Trump faces—two at the state level and two at the federal level. The other state case focuses on his alleged attempts to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss in Georgia. One federal case accuses him of knowingly promoting election fraud lies in 2020 to remain in power, and another charges him with illegally retaining classified government documents when he left the White House, violating the Presidential Records Act.
Regardless of the outcomes of these cases, Trump can still run for President. The US Constitution specifies only three eligibility requirements for the presidency: being a natural-born US citizen, being at least 35 years old, and having resided in the US for at least 14 years. It does not prohibit convicted criminals from running for or becoming President.
Also Read: New York Court Convicts Donald Trump In Hush Money Case; Sentencing Date Set