Just recently, it was revealed that the investigations into the finances of US former president Donald Trump and his businesses are no longer ‘civil’.
Because of this, a criminal investigation is underway, and Manhattan’s top prosecutor has ordered a grand jury to decide what charges Trump may face.
The panel is expected to convene for three days a week over the next six months. During these meetings, they will discuss possible crimes and decide whether the charges would be placed against executives within The Trump Organization, the business, or Trump himself.
The news of this panel convening suggests that prosecutors —who have been probing The Trump Organization for more than two years— could end the investigation. This only means that Trump and his businesses can face charges related to misleading insurance companies and lenders about the property value and not paying proper taxes.
According to The Washington Post, the investigators looked into several real estate properties like the Trump Tower, the Seven Springs estate, and the Chicago hotel and condo tower. They have also looked into the money given to Stormy Daniels to keep her affair with Trump a secret.
In line with this, Trump’s rumored presidential campaign in 2024 could still take place while he’s in prison.
Nonetheless, Trump can run in the presidential race as long as he would meet the requirements for a candidate in an election.
Trump is over the age of 35, a natural-born US citizen, and a fourteen-year resident of the country. This will make him an eligible candidate, even from the confines of a prison cell.
Meanwhile, the question of whether the Republican party would still back Trump in this likely scenario remains to be unanswered.
Republicans may also have issues on whether a prison sentence is an ‘impairment’, meaning Trump cannot perform his duties. If this will be the case, then he would have to give up his claim to the position.
It is worth noting that it is still yet to be determined whether Trump will be found guilty of any charges pressed against him.
The ex-POTUS has been impeached twice and has managed to come out safely. For that reason, Trump could be seen campaigning in the next years.
In a statement, Trump responded indirectly to the investigation.
“This is a continuation of the greatest Witch Hunt in American history,” the statement reads. “It began the day I came down the escalator in Trump Tower, and it’s never stopped.”
“They wasted two years and $48 million in taxpayer dollars on Mueller and Russia Russia Russia, Impeachment Hoax #1, Impeachment Hoax #2, and it continues to this day, with illegally leaked confidential information.”
It is clear that Trump intends to protest any charges that may come his way.