What Happens if Donald Trump is Convicted in the 'Hush Money' Case?

Donald Trump complained about the cold weather and uncomfortable courtroom in Manhattan, New York, on Wednesday, June 9. Meanwhile, the jury in the court examining the 'hush money' payment to a porn star began deliberations on the same day. If Mr. Trump is found guilty in this case, he will face conditions that he will certainly find insulting, including a review of his prison record by the New York City parole board, which is mandatory. The main issue in this trial is the indictment from the New York District Attorney, which accuses Mr. Trump of paying $130,000 to Stormy Daniels, a porn star, shortly before the 2016 presidential election to buy her silence regarding their sexual relationship. The jury has begun deliberations regarding the 'hush money' case. Stormy Daniels had previously discussed her sexual relationship with Mr. Trump in interviews with American publications, which Mr. Trump's fixers attempted to prevent from being published. The main witness in this trial is Michael Cohen, Mr. Trump's former lawyer and fixer, who stated in one of the trial sessions that he personally managed the covert payments to tabloids to prevent the publication of stories that could harm Mr. Trump's 2016 election campaign. One of the most significant cases involved Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Karen McDougal, who sought to sell the story of her year-long relationship with Mr. Trump. Mr. Trump is charged with 34 counts of misdemeanors for manipulating and falsifying business records, which the prosecution claims was aimed at concealing the hush money payment. Meanwhile, prosecutors in New York have accused him of election fraud in 2016, stating that the hush money payment constitutes election fraud. According to former prosecutors, if Mr. Trump is convicted in this case, he will face various possibilities. Under New York state law, a person convicted of such offenses has a time frame to appeal the ruling. However, in Mr. Trump's case, as a former president and candidate for this year's presidential election, other considerations must also be taken into account. For instance, if he is imprisoned, how will the U.S. Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting current and former presidents, ensure his safety in prison? Another issue is whether Mr. Trump will be allowed to travel to participate in campaign events. Legal experts believe that given Mr. Trump's age (77 years) and lack of a criminal record, it is unlikely that he will receive a prison sentence. The penalties for the crimes outlined in the indictment against Mr. Trump, which are defined as 'a category of misdemeanors,' range from 16 months to four years in prison. One of the crucial topics in determining Donald Trump's punishment, if he is convicted, will be the decision regarding whether to imprison him, keep him in a government facility, house arrest, or more lenient conditions such as probation. Eric Adams, the mayor of New York, recently stated that if a prison sentence is issued for the former U.S. president, Rikers Island prison and the New York Department of Corrections are prepared. Constitutional law experts believe that Mr. Trump's conviction in this case will not disqualify him from participating in the presidential election or holding the office if he wins.