Donald Trump secured a comeback in the 2024 presidential election, winning over 270 electoral votes despite facing four criminal cases. He was convicted in one case related to campaign finance violations, with sentencing set for November 26. Legal expert Anne Deysine notes that while Trump navigates federal and state legal challenges, he may leverage his presidential status for delays or immunity, potentially avoiding serious consequences until his term concludes.
A Bold Return to Power Amidst Legal Turmoil
On November 5, 2024, Donald Trump made a remarkable return to the American political landscape by winning the presidential election. Securing over 270 electoral votes, the former president triumphed in a race that saw 538 electoral votes up for grabs. As he prepares to take office again on January 20, he does so while grappling with four ongoing criminal cases.
Legal Challenges Looming Over the New Presidency
Trump’s reelection offers him a unique shield against his legal challenges, as he successfully delayed most of his trials past the pivotal election date. Despite facing four significant legal battles in 2024, he was only found guilty in one case related to falsifying campaign accounts from the 2016 election.
Anne Deysine, a legal expert, highlights the nature of these cases, noting that two are federal while the other two are state-level, specifically one in Georgia and another in New York. The New York case, however, poses the greatest risk for Trump, as it is the sole trial his attorneys could not postpone past the election date, resulting in a conviction. He now faces a maximum of four years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for November 26.
On May 30, 2024, the New York court found Trump guilty of “aggravated accounting fraud to conceal a scheme to corrupt the 2016 election,” stemming from a $130,000 payment made to former adult film star Stormy Daniels, aimed at silencing her claims about a past relationship.
According to Deysine, Trump’s legal team will likely seek to postpone this case until the end of his new term. She speculates that the judge may either agree to the delay or impose a minimal penalty, but insists that the chances of Trump serving time are slim. Notably, the U.S. Department of Justice has upheld a long-standing policy of not prosecuting sitting presidents for over five decades.
As the federal prosecutions led by prosecutor Jack Smith unfold, Trump faces two significant cases that he might navigate successfully. The first revolves around allegations of attempting to overturn the 2020 election results, including claims of spreading false information and inciting the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021. Deysine notes that the Supreme Court’s recent ruling has granted a “presumption of immunity” to presidential actions, complicating the legal landscape for Trump.
The second federal case involves the retention of classified documents discovered at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence after leaving office. Initially set for trial on May 20, 2024, this case has faced delays, and Judge Aileen Cannon, appointed by Trump, even dismissed the charges, labeling the appointment of prosecutor Jack Smith as unconstitutional. This decision is currently under appeal, but Deysine believes the appellate court’s ruling will arrive too late to impact Trump’s situation.
To navigate these legal hurdles, it’s speculated that Trump may enlist his future attorney general to terminate the prosecutions. He has made it clear that he would act swiftly to dismiss Jack Smith if he regains the presidency. Although the potential for a conviction may diminish, the seriousness of these allegations will likely remain in the public discourse.
The final legal challenge pertains to efforts in Georgia to overturn the 2020 election results, where Trump and 18 others were indicted for pressuring the state’s Secretary of State to “find” additional votes. As this case progresses, Trump’s legal representatives are attempting to assert immunity based on his presidential status at the time. However, unlike federal charges, he cannot self-pardon in state cases. Deysine concludes that Trump’s legal troubles may fade at least until the end of his term, suggesting he might not even need to consider self-pardoning to evade consequences.