RNC leader expects Trump to be in Milwaukee for convention despite July 11 conviction

Republican National Convention officials don't expect former President Donald Trump's conviction in a hush money case in New York just days before the RNC to stop him from coming to Milwaukee to accept the party presidential nomination in person.

“We hope that President Trump will be there to accept the nomination – we're very excited about that. Obviously, if we have to come up with contingency plans, we will,” Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley said during of a press conference Wednesday at the Fiserv Forum. , Milwaukee's premier convention site.

Trump is scheduled to be sentenced July 11 after a jury found him guilty last week of all 34 counts in a case in which prosecutors said he falsified business records to conceal a cash payment secret from a porn star before the 2016 presidential election. He should appeal.

The sentencing will come days before the Republican National Convention kicks off at Fiserv Forum. The convention runs July 15-18, with a welcome party the day before it begins.

The trial galvanized support within the Republican Party, Whatley said, noting an increase in fundraising for the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee said it followed the verdict.

Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee to take on President Joe Biden, a Democrat, in a rematch of the 2020 race.

Four years ago, Biden won Wisconsin by about 21,000 votes.

Whatley, in his comments Wednesday, made clear the importance of the swing state in the upcoming election, noting that polls show a close race.

“This is going to be one of the most defining battleground states in the entire country, and that's why we're excited to show everyone in Wisconsin that our candidate offers the best plan to get our country back on track. the rails,” Whatley said during the press conference. press conference that took place just 40 days before the convention began and about 150 days before the November election.

More: Wisconsin AG Josh Kaul accuses former Trump associates of false election scheme

Alison Dirr can be contacted at [email protected]. Tristan Hernandez can be reached at [email protected].

This article originally appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Trump expected at GOP convention despite July 11 conviction: RNC leader