Donald Trump has become the first former US president and presidential contender in history to be convicted of a crime.

With the 2024 presidential election approaching, this historic conviction could significantly influence voter opinions, particularly in the tight race between Trump and President Joe Biden.

According to opinion polls, some voters may be influenced by Trump’s conviction. Independent voters and several Republicans expressed skepticism about continuing to back Trump following the verdict in interviews.

According to a recent study, more than half of independent voters prefer that Trump renounce his 2024 candidacy in light of his conviction.

52% of Independent voters think Trump should quit the race, and 67% of Double-Haters—voters who detest both Trump and Biden—agree. 16% of Republicans believe Trump ought to step down from office, and 8% of Trump supporters concur.

A different survey revealed that 54% of voters who are registered support the guilty decision. That being said, 49% of respondents favor probation and 44% favor a prison sentence, making Trump’s judgment a historic occurrence.

Details of the Conviction

Trump was convicted on 34 felony business fraud counts related to hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election

The Trump Organization’s financial records and the statements of people like Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, and David Pecker, the former National Enquirer publisher, were important pieces of evidence.

In his deposition, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker admitted to working with Michael Cohen, Trump’s lawyer, to squash negative reports.

The defense maintained that Stormy Daniels’ testimony on her purported meeting with Trump was contrived to benefit financially.

A gag order barred Trump from openly addressing jurors, witnesses, or other court officials throughout the trial. Despite being aware of the constraints, Trump acknowledged them in public speeches and seemed to be pushing them to the limit.

Trump’s sentencing is scheduled for July 11, and he has pledged to appeal. In New York, the appeals procedure may take months or even years to complete. Following sentencing, Trump’s legal team has thirty days to seek an appeal.

Political Reactions

President Joe Biden’s campaign highlighted the verdict as evidence that no one is above the law, urging voters to reject Trump.

Nevertheless, a number of Republicans, most notably House Speaker Mike Johnson, denounced the decision and characterized it as an attack with political motivations.

Trump can still run for president despite the conviction. He satisfies all constitutional standards, and in the wake of the ruling, his campaign reported a spike in donations, indicating that the majority of voters are still behind him.

But given his legal issues, support for Trump has been erratic, making the political picture unpredictable. Trump is dealing with further legal issues, which involve 54 charges spread across three different instances.

These consist of an election interference case in Georgia, a classified papers case in Florida, and a federal election subversion case. His political career may be further impacted by the resolution of these lawsuits.

The final effects on the 2024 presidential contest will become apparent in the upcoming months as the judicial process progresses and public opinion shifts.