Will Trump, the first US president to become a convicted felon, go to prison now? All eyes are on sentencing day, July 11.

Former President Donald Trump made history by becoming the first former US president to be convicted of a crime in the financial silence case.

Why is today's ruling on Donald Trump important?

The implications of this guilty verdict in New York are unprecedented for any current or former American president. The consequences and next steps will be closely monitored.

Trump will be sentenced on July 11

Trump, the leading contender for the 2024 Republican nomination, is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, just one week before the Republican National Convention. His lawyer, Todd Blanche, said on CNN that Trump's legal team plans to “vigorously fight” the verdict with motions in the coming weeks. If those efforts fail, they will appeal after sentencing. However, the appeal process is unlikely to be concluded before the November elections.

What are the potential consequences for Donald Trump?

Will Donald Trump go to prison?

Judge Juan Merchan will decide whether Trump will serve prison time. The 34 counts, all Class E felonies – the least serious level in New York – each carry a prison sentence of up to four years. The judge could also sentence Trump to probation, requiring him to report regularly to a probation officer. If Trump commits further crimes while on probation, he could be imprisoned.

Defense attorney Dan Horwitz, a former prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, told CBS News that the judge could impose a variety of sentences, from a short prison term to probationary sentences, such as a sentence of prison on weekends.

Can Trump run for president as a convicted felon?

Trump can still run for president despite his felony conviction. However, whether he can vote for himself depends on state laws regarding felons' voting rights. Trump moved his residence to Florida after leaving the White House in 2021. Under Florida law, a felon's right to vote depends on the laws of the state where the conviction occurred.

Blair Bowie, an attorney at the Campaign Legal Center, explained that New York only deprives individuals of their rights while they are serving a prison sentence. If Trump is not sentenced to prison, his voting rights would be restored in New York and, therefore, Florida. So Trump could vote unless he was in jail on Election Day.

Context of the verdict

Trump was found guilty on all counts at his secret trial in New York. Last year, he was indicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to conceal an alleged sexual relationship. Trump faces three other criminal cases, but none are expected to be concluded before the November election.