Former President Trump Faces Charges
Summary – On June 13, former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to the first federal charges to ever be filed against a U.S. president. Trump turned himself in at a Miami federal courthouse and was booked on the second set of criminal charges he has faced this year. He has been charged with 37 counts related to allegations of keeping classified documents after leaving the White House, and resisting efforts to return said documents to federal record-keepers. The charges include the following:
- Willful retention of national defense information
- Conspiracy to obstruct justice
- Withholding documents and records
- Corruptly concealing documents and records
- Concealing documents in a federal investigation
- Scheming to conceal
- False statements and representations
Trump aid Walt Nauta did not enter a plea but was surrendered and booked. The two will not be allowed to contact one another upon their release.
Analysis – This marks the second time in two months that the former president was arraigned on criminal charges, having plead not guilty to 34 counts in April for falsifying business records. Trump faces three other major investigations relating to the election, the January 6th insurrection, and his finances. He may also face a second defamation trial. Despite this, he remains the leading Republican candidate for the 2024 presidential election.
These cases have brought forth a major question: why can former President Trump still run for president in 2024? As this is an unprecedented situation, many politicians, analysts, lawyers, and voters are struggling to answer this issue. The simple answer is that there is nothing in the Constitution that prevents someone who has been charged or convicted from seeking or tracking office. This is despite laws restricting the voting rights of those charged with felony offenses.
It is likely that if a Republican wins the presidential seat in 2024, Trump will be pardoned on all counts. A pardon would weaken the long-held argument that no one is above the law or justice system in the United States. For this reason, Rideshare2Vote supports Democrats who uphold this belief, and set out to strengthen our system of justice. We at Rideshare2Vote believe no one is above the law, and our country must be led by those who seek to protect our citizens.
by Delany Doggett
