In light of the unprecedented charges against a former president, many are wondering whether Donald Trump would still be eligible to run for president in 2024. Here is what the experts say…
What charges is President Donald Trump facing?
In an unprecedented action in American history, former President Donald Trump is facing more than 30 counts related to business fraud in an indictment from a Manhattan grand jury.
At present, the indictment was filed under seal, since grand jury proceedings are secret. Therefore, the charges are not publicly known at this time, CNN reported.
However, an announcement will be made in the coming days, as Trump is expected to appear in court on Tuesday.
Can Trump still run in 2024? What the experts say…
According to the experts, the short answer to whether Trump would still be eligible to run for president in lieu of the indictments is “yes.” Here’s why…
There is nothing in the Constitution preventing someone charged or convicted from seeking or taking office, according to the experts, CBS News reported.
“It’s pretty widely accepted that the list of qualifications in the Constitution is exclusive – that is, Congress or states can’t add qualifications to those listed in the Constitution,” according to Derek Muller, a law professor at the University of Iowa. “It’s something that really doesn’t affect your ability to run as a candidate, to appear on the ballot, or to even win the election.”
Constitutionally, according to the experts, People reported, the only requirements for presidential eligibility are:
– A candidate must be at least 35 years old.
– A natural-born citizen of the United States.
– A resident of the US for at least 14 years.
“Legally speaking, and certainly even if he were convicted of this incident in New York City, it wouldn’t prevent him from running for president,” says Dr. Trey Hood III, a political science professor at the University of Georgia. “The bottom line is that [an indictment] is not going to keep [Trump] legally from running for president and potentially from being elected.”
Wouldn’t impeachment disqualify Trump?
There is a rule against impeachment that says if a person is impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate of high crimes and misdemeanors, he or she is removed from office and disqualified from serving again, CNN reported.
Though Trump was impeached by the House twice during his presidency, he was acquitted twice by the Senate. Therefore, because he was not convicted, he is still eligible to run for president.
Trump could be barred from voting
One other effect of the indictments is if Trump is convicted of a felony in New York, he would be barred from voting in his adoptive home state of Florida until he had served out a potential sentence.
