If Donald Trump is arrested, can he challenge the US presidential election?

Donald Trump said he was “okay” with a possible prison sentence or house arrest. (File)

Former US President Donald Trump was recently found guilty on all 34 counts in the hush money trial. The verdict by a New York court last week marked the first time a former US president has been charged and convicted in a criminal case. However, it appears the case is far from over.

Trump’s sentencing is scheduled for July 11, four days before Republicans meet to officially choose their presidential candidate for the November 2024 election.

Will Trump go to jail?

A big question ahead of the July 11 verdict is whether Trump will go to prison. In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, he said he was “okay” with a possible prison sentence or house arrest.

“I agree,” he said when asked about the possible penalties.

“I saw one of my lawyers on TV the other day say, ‘Oh no, you don’t want to do that to the president.’ I said, ‘You don’t beg for anything,'” he noted.

However, the former US president added that the public would find this difficult to accept.

“I’m not sure the public would tolerate that… I think it would be hard for the public to tolerate that. You know, at a certain point there is a fracture,” he noted.

However, such a prison sentence is unusual for people convicted in New York state of falsifying business records – the charge the ex-president was accused of at his trial. The maximum sentence for that crime is up to four years in prison, Reuters reported.

The charge of falsifying business records is classified as a Class E felony in New York, the lowest offense in the state, the Associated Press noted.

Ultimately, it will depend on the judge. It remains to be seen to what extent the judge will take into account the political and logistical complexities of imprisoning Trump, who is hoping for another term in the White House.

Further penalties in this case include a fine or a suspended sentence.

However, the 77-year-old faces longer prison sentences in the other three cases currently pending against him. However, these have so far been stalled by appeals and other legal disputes.

Can Trump still compete in the polls?

Although Trump was found guilty on 34 counts, the conviction does not prevent him from continuing his campaign or running for president. He is allowed to vote for himself in his home state of Florida until he is released from prison in New York state. After the verdict, he can also appeal his conviction in a New York appeals court and possibly the state’s highest court.