Photo credits: NBC News
Author’s note:
From Richard Nixon to Donald Trump, a number of U.S. political figures have faced legal trouble. Former President Trump’s charges have been the subject of countless news stories in recent months, with questions arising about whether he should be allowed to run for the presidency and possible prison sentences that he could face. Despite being a convicted felon, the former president still has the support of millions of Americans which may lead to his second term if reelected in November. Thus, I pose the question: is it just for a criminally convicted person to run a country? When examining this case, it must be remembered that these charges should apply to Trump as they would apply to any other citizen, rather than allowing him to be placed on a pedestal due to his past presidency. In a country where “All people are created equal,” famous figures should not gain advantages in the legal system.
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The election is nearing, this cannot be happening.
The thought repeats in his head again and again and again. With the presidential election in one month, any threat to his reputation must be eliminated. The numbers are close—he cannot take any chances.
Still, the rumors about him were spreading. Social media sites and news outlets were flooded with made-up information about an affair. His supporters were starting to ask questions. This cannot be happening.
He had attempted to speak with her before, begging her to stop spreading rumors about an affair. He had even asked her what she wanted in return. Her answer? Money. So, in a last, desperate attempt, he signs a check—$130,000—and addresses it to her name, scribbling on it “Please.”
The Wall Street Journal initially reported former President Donald Trump’s “hush money” transfer to adult actress Stormy Daniels to urge her to stop discussing their alleged affair two years after it happened in 2018. Though hush money is not illegal, what led to Trump’s criminal charges was the fact that his former lawyer Michael Cohen listed his reimbursement as legal fees in Trump’s accounts.
Furthermore, federal prosecutors have stated that Trump pressured government officials to reverse the results of the 2020 election, intentionally spread lies about election fraud, and aimed to exploit the riot in the Capital to delay the certification of President Joe Biden’s victory. In response to his criminal counts, Trump has denied any wrongdoings and claimed that the Biden administration is behind his prosecution.
He was indicted on March 30, 2023, and faced 34 counts of falsifying business records, which count as felonies. Specifically, he was charged for invoices for legal services, checks paid for legal services, and ledger entries for legal expenses, according to NPR. In defense, Trump denied any affair with Daniels and stated that the payment to her was not related to his campaign. He accused the leading attorney of the case, Alvin L. Bragg, of being a “racist” and conducting a “witch hunt.”
While AP News claims that the most serious of his charges has a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, incarceration is not guaranteed. Instead, Trump could be sentenced to probation with a warning of incarceration should he commit further crimes. If he is serving time in prison on Election Day, he will lose the right to vote.
Ultimately, Trump was found to be guilty on all 34 counts, leading him to call the trial a “disgrace” and claim that he is a “very innocent man.” The question that rose in many citizens’ minds was what would happen to Donald Trump and the 2024 election.
According to the Constitution of the United States, which merely states that Presidential candidates must be over 35 years of age, be “natural born” citizens, and have lived in the country for 14 years, Trump is eligible to run despite his criminal charges. Additionally, the Supreme Court decided that states could not keep Trump off their election ballots. However, Trump may lose the right to vote after his conviction.
Is it just for someone to be deemed unfit to vote, but fit to be voted?
I argue that this is entirely unjust. If a citizen is not trusted to choose the person to run the country, they should not be trusted to be the one running the country. The idea that a convicted felon may gain the presidency over the nation in which he was convicted on 34 criminal counts seems illogical.
This is a unique case, however. Donald Trump is the first former United States President to be convicted of a felony. However, I urge voters of the United States to realize that one who defies laws should not have the power to make decisions about them, rather than allowing their opinions to be skewed due to Trump’s wealth, influence, or former presidency.
“All people are created equal,” so treat them as such.
Works Cited
Astor, Maggie. “Can Trump Still Run for President After His Conviction?” The New York Times, 20 June 2024, https://www.nytimes.com/article/trump-investigation-conviction.html. Accessed 10 July 2024.
Bustillo, Ximena, and Hilary Fung. “Here's what all 34 felony counts in Trump's hush money trial mean.” NPR, 30 May 2024, https://www.npr.org/2024/05/30/g-s1-1848/trump-hush-money-trial-34-counts. Accessed 10 July 2024.
Evans, Gareth. “A guide to Donald Trump's four criminal cases.” BBC, 1 July 2024, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-61084161. Accessed 10 July 2024.
“Here's where all the cases against Trump stand as he campaigns for a return to the White House.” AP News, 29 February 2024, https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictments-election-january-6-classified-documents-5cb04868bb1cdf91c19eafdb882af8c0. Accessed 10 July 2024.
Malig, Kaela. “A Guide to the Criminal Cases Against Donald Trump.” PBS, 30 January 2024, https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/a-guide-to-the-criminal-cases-against-donald-trump/. Accessed 10 July 2024.
Millward, David, and Tony Diver. “Can Trump still run for president?” The Telegraph, 2 June 2024, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2024/05/31/why-donald-trump-can-still-run-for-president/. Accessed 10 July 2024.
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