In the trial over hush money payments to a porn actor, the jury has unanimously found Donald Trump guilty on all charges. The sentence is to be handed down on 11 July – just a few days before the Republicans plan to nominate Trump as their presidential candidate for the second time. But even if the former president has to go to prison, he will still be able to run for office.
Open/close all quotes
Disadvantage in a neck-and-neck race?
The consequences of the verdict for the November elections are uncertain, says Corriere della Sera:
“A survey conducted by Quinnipiac University last month found that six percent of Trump’s voters would be less willing to vote for him if he were convicted. A small percentage, but one that could be significant in a neck-and-neck race like the one against Biden. Others say this conviction will carry little weight in the election in five months’ time in which the economy will be the main issue for Americans. Moreover, Trump has used this trial to portray himself as a victim of the system and mobilise his electorate.”
Only the ballot box counts
The court will not decide whether Trump is re-elected, emphasises Ilta-Sanomat:
“The Trump judgement is primarily symbolic. … Nothing in the New York judgement prevents Trump from seeking another term as president. Not even in the hypothetical case that he goes to prison. He could be elected president from behind bars. As President Joe Biden said immediately after the judgement, the only way to keep Donald Trump out of the White House is at the ballot box. At this stage, it’s hard to say what impact Trump’s conviction will have on the outcome of the election.”
A historic disgrace
The Economist doesn’t believe that the verdict will bring Trump down:
“This historic disgrace should both shock the nation and reassure it about its capacity to achieve justice. That the conviction of Donald Trump will probably accomplish neither result testifies partly to the corrosive power of Mr Trump’s shamelessness and partly to the complex, contestable nature of the charges brought against him. … Maybe this conviction, as some polling suggests, will cause independent-minded voters to abandon Mr Trump. If not, then paying hush money to Ms Daniels may now help elect Mr Trump a second time.”
No judgement on the real scandal yet
Dagens Nyheter stresses that the verdict does nothing to avert the threats to democracy:
“There are four indictments against Trump and this was the least serious and easiest to cast doubts on: the prosecutor had said that he would go hard against Trump, the jury came from one of the Democrats’ most robust strongholds and the judge has donated a dollar or two to that very party. … Trump is facing charges over the outrageous attempt to prevent a peaceful transition of power. However, there is much to suggest that in that case the legal review won’t take place before the election. … So Trump won’t have to defend himself in court for his threats against democracy, and Trumpism can continue on its chosen path.”