Sentencing Donald Trump to prison could cause a “constitutional crisis”

Donald Trump's prison sentence could trigger a constitutional crisis, an expert has warned as closing arguments begin in the former president's historic trial.

Trump made history as the first former president to be tried on criminal charges. He is accused of falsifying internal Trump Organization records as part of a scheme to bury damaging stories that he feared could damage his 2016 campaign, especially as Trump's reputation suffered at the time from his comments about women.

With the United States more politically divided than it has been since the Civil War, many fear that a conviction of Trump could cause more problems. Speaking to the Mirror, Gregory Germain, a law professor at Syracuse University, explained where the trial could take place and the problems it could cause.

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He said: “I doubt there are any Trump supporters on the jury, and I think they are probably very offended by Trump's conduct in and out of court, as well as his contrary behavior. ethics. So even if only one juror is needed for Trump to get a mistrial, and even if it's a very flawed case, I predict the jury will convict him.

“Because it would be so outrageous to sentence Trump to prison for a first-time non-violent Class E felony, and it would cause a constitutional crisis and betray the judge's bias, I think the judge will sentence him to probation.”

He added: “Ultimately, I think the verdict will be overturned on appeal. If the judge sentences Trump to prison, then the courts will intervene quickly. If Trump is not sentenced to prison, the appeal will take its time and be overturned. after the elections.”

Professor Germain expressed concern about Trump being sued in this way. He said: “I was very critical of the prosecutor for presenting such an imperfect case, and of the judge for moving the case forward in such a confusing manner, given all the legal issues involved to the allegations contained in the indictment. I don't think the prosecutor has proven that Trump committed fraud and a separate crime by facilitating business records to show attorney fees rather than returning cash payments.

He continued: “I think the prosecutor and the judge are fully invested in obtaining a conviction. I think the judge will gloss over the legal questions in the jury instructions to allow a conviction by defining the legal question around the desirability of paying hush money versus the legality of paying hush money and how it relates to document fees.