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Donald Trump‘s New York Hush Money trial ended on unfavorable terms on Thursday. A jury found him guilty of all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to hide a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. Trump allegedly paid the adult film star $130,000 to buy her silence about a sexual affair before the 2016 elections. The highly publicized trial lasted six weeks and featured more than a dozen witnesses.
As a result of the verdict, Trump is now the first criminally convicted president in American history. However, the reality of what that means for the 45th president remains unknown, as he has yet to be sentenced. Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over the case, has declared July 11 as the sentencing date. However, before then, the question on everyone’s lips remains, “Will Donald Trump go to jail?”
How Long Is Trump’s Sentence?
The 77-year-old’s charges are class E felonies, which usually carry a $5,000 fine and a maximum four-year prison sentence for each count. According to the defense lawyer, Dan Horwitz, this means a variety of sentencing options. These can include no jail time at all, four years behind bars, or probation or conditional discharge.
“The judge could sentence him to anything between zero and the max. So he could sentence him to a period of months in jail, he could sentence him to a period of weeks in jail, he could sentence him to a sentence where he is required, for example, to go to jail every weekend for a period of time and then serve the rest of the sentence on probation.”
Horwitz explains that if the judge opts for the maximum sentence, Trump would serve the time concurrently for each count. The former president also has the option of house arrest, in which he would wear an ankle bracelet.
Despite the plethora of sentencing options, Judge Merchan ultimately determines the appropriate judgment. However, he would have to consider several factors when making that choice. Apart from looking at Trump’s criminal record, his societal standing, and personal history, Judge Merchan could also consider the defendant’s conduct during the trial. It is no news that Trump repeatedly violated the gag order placed on him. He was fined multiple times, with the frustrated judge once expressing that jailing Trump was “the last thing I want to do.”
Where Would Trump Likely Serve His Sentence?
Nevertheless, if the judge sentences Donald Trump to jail time, the duration of his time would determine the location. Per CBS, for a jail time of more than a year, the former leader will be in a New York penal facility. However, for a shorter stint, Trump will serve his sentence at a New York City correctional facility.
It is worth noting that a prison sentence complicates Trump’s lifetime Secret Service protection. If imprisoned, the Secret Service would have to continue protecting the former president in unprecedented circumstances, which could pose logistical difficulties.
However, if Trump is sentenced to home detention, his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida would suffice as the location. New York authorities would just have to coordinate with Florida’s probation department to monitor Trump’s confinement.
