reactions of the ex-president and Biden, date of the sentence… Highlights after Trump’s historic conviction

This is a first for a former American president. Donald Trump was found guilty at his historic criminal trial in New York on Thursday May 30. An earthquake for the billionaire who remains free, says ” innocent “ and intends to return to the White House.

The Republican presidential candidate on November 5 was unanimously declared guilty by the twelve jurors on all 34 counts. The billionaire was accused of making hidden payments to former porn star Stormy Daniels in order to avoid a sex scandal in the home stretch of his campaign during the 2016 election.

• When will the sentence against Donald Trump be known?

Judge Juan Merchan scheduled his sentencing for July 11 at 10 a.m. (4 p.m. in Paris), at the New York court, four days before the Republican Party convention which will officially induct Donald Trump as the conservative candidate for the presidency. presidential.

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The judge let him walk free, without requiring bail, and gave the defense until June 13 to present its arguments for sentencing. The prosecution will have until June 27 to respond.

The former president, who refused to testify in court, fulminating at each of his appearances that the trial was taking him away from the campaign, paradoxically regains with this verdict his complete freedom of maneuver, at least until July 11. His criminal conviction does not end his run for the White House.

• What does the former American president risk?

Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan prosecutor who investigated the case and welcomed the verdict Thursday evening, did not wish to indicate whether the prosecution intended to request a prison sentence.

Falsification of accounting documents is punishable by up to four years in prison in New York State. But in the absence of a criminal record for Trump, who will be 78 years old at the time of sentencing, the judge should instead sentence him to a suspended prison sentence or to community service, as well. and possibly a fine.

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In any case, Donald Trump has one month to notify his intention to appeal, announced on Thursday evening by his lawyers, then several months to do so officially. This appeal will most likely have a suspensive effect on his sentence, particularly in the event of prison time. And a possible appeal trial is unlikely to be held before the presidential election.

This criminal conviction, any more than a possible prison sentence, therefore does not invalidate his candidacy. If Donald Trump wins on November 5, he will be able to take office in January 2025. However, he will not be able to pardon himself or order the abandonment of these proceedings, because it is a State procedure. New York and not a federal proceeding.

• How did he react after his conviction?

Leaving the courtroom, with a grimace on his face, Donald Trump described himself in “innocent man”castigating a trial “rigged” which would be a ” shame “. Defiant, he assured that the “real verdict will take place on November 5 [jour de l’élection présidentielle]by the American people.”

The billionaire then entered, with his fist raised, into his Trump Tower on 5^e avenue de Manhattan, from where he will give a press conference on Friday at 11 a.m. (3 p.m. in Paris).

“I am a political prisoner”launched the Republican candidate in a call for donations published Thursday evening, criticizing a trial instigated according to him by his Democratic opponent, outgoing President Joe Biden.

• How did Joe Biden and the White House react?

Joe Biden’s campaign team reacted very soberly this Thursday, remaining focused on the November election. “We saw today in New York that no one is above the law”reacted Michael Tyler, a spokesperson for the Democratic campaign in a press release. “However, there is only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: the ballothe continued. Delinquent or not, Trump will be the Republican candidate. »

The White House, for its part, was careful not to comment on this verdict in which Donald Trump sees the outcome of a political trial, orchestrated by his adversaries. “We respect the law”, a spokesperson simply said. The expression “convicted criminal”in English “convicted felon”, should come back constantly in the coming months. The verdict will allow Joe Biden to say “I am not a convicted felon”commented a Democratic strategist, Rachel Bitecofer.

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To say more would be anyway “a little tricky” for the American president, because he “wanted to avoid giving the impression of directing legal proceedings against his opponent”charged in three other criminal cases, comments David Karol, political scientist at the University of Maryland.

Wendy Schiller, professor of political science at Brown University, recalls that from Monday June 3, Hunter Biden, son of the president, will also be in court, tried for illegal possession of a weapon. Enough to dissuade his father from “comment on legal cases”she believes.