It is no longer news that the Manhattan grand jury voted to indict former US President, Donald Trump in relation to the ongoing investigation involving a hush payment made by Trump in 2016 to a porn star, Stormy Daniels. Unfortunately, this is a historic trial as this will be the first time an Incumbent or former US President will be indicted.
While the former US President arrived the courthouse in lower Manhattan, New York, he was placed under arrest while waiting for his official arraignment. Though he was not wearing handcuffs, but his fingerprints will be taken, after which he will proceed to be arraigned, and his charges equally read out to him.
The former US president is not wearing handcuffs but will have his fingerprints taken. After processing, Trump will attend an arraignment hearing where criminal charges will be read out.
(Trump inside the courtroom following his arraignment today, April 4, 2023)
Trump’s 2024 Presidential Ambition:
Much has been speculated about what may become the aftermath of the trial with regards to his 2024 Presidential ambition. Yes, like what are the possible consequences of the indictment, trial and conviction with regards to his ambition to be elected US President once again.
Meanwhile, Trump is expected to go on with his campaign for his election bid as he aim to regain the seat he lost to incumbent Joe Biden in 2022. According to article ll of the US Constitution, it clearly stated the basic qualifications for a candidate seeking to be elected US President, which clearly states that the candidate must be up to 35 years old, a natural born US citizen, and must have lived in the country for at least 14 years.
In other words, the US Constitution doesn’t insinuate or stipulate in anyway that the candidate must be free from any form of indictment, trial, Conviction or prison sentence. Therefore, an indicted or convicted person is legally eligible to contest for the position of US President and even serve as president of the country if he or she wins.
This is the obtainable legal standard that will be applicable to Donald Trump, as such, his indictment, trial and conviction is obviously useless to his 2024 Presidential ambition.
But the only question begging for an answer is, how does Trump intend to run his administration if he’s eventually convicted and sentenced, while on the other hand he ends up winning his election? Well, there’s more to this case and we will continue to keep our fingers crossed as things unfolds.
(Photo credit: APS, ABC news)
