The 2024 election declared Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United States. Trump received 312 electoral college votes compared to Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, who only received 226, as well as 50.4% of the popular vote. The republicans also won the majority for the US senate and the House of Representatives. His win will make him the first president of the United States with a criminal record.
E. Jean Carroll vs Trump
In Spring 2023, E. Jean Carroll and Trump went to trial where he was found guilty of sexually assaulting her in the spring of 1996 in a luxury department store, but was not proven to have raped her. The former president labeled the act as a “disgrace” on his platform Truth Social. Trump later sued Carroll for “defaming” him, however, these claims were quickly shut down when federal judge Lewis Kaplan ruled in August 2023 that the rape allegations were “substantially true.” Carroll was given $5 million for sexual battery and defamation. In a written statement after she left the courtroom, Carroll said that she sued Trump to “clear [her] name and get [her] back on track.” Other women have accused Trump of sexually abusing them however none of these cases have been proven by a court. One female detailed her experience with Trump touching her non-consensually and reaching up her skirt. Another woman said he had pushed her against a wall and kissed her without permission while she was reporting for a magazine article about Trump’s anniversary with his wife, Melania.
Classified Documents
In May 2021, the National Archives asked Trump and his staff to return all missing presidential records. Eight months later, 15 boxes of documents were returned. The National Archives determined that 14 of those packages contained classified documents. This discovery was then referred to the Justice Department, who opened a criminal investigation in May 2022. Prosecutors said that Trump had tried to obstruct the FBI and Grand Jury inquiries by failing to produce the legal documents that were requested of him. Furthermore, he instructed his personal aide to move and conceal boxes of classified papers. Later, investigators obtained footage showing Trump’s staff moving packages. The FBI acquired a search warrant to search Mar-a-Lago, a property owned by the United States and Trump’s place of residence, where they found 11 more sets of classified documents. Some of these reports were labeled “SCI,” meaning they were “sensitive compartmented information.” After the search, Trump along with other republicans, blamed President Biden of having weaponized the justice department to eliminate an opponent.
Jan 6 Capitol Riot
In July 2023, Trump was indicted on four counts for attempting to overthrow the government following the results of the 2020 presidential election. His charges include conspiracy to defraud the United States, witness tampering, conspiracy against the right of citizens, obstruction of and an attempt to obstruct an official proceeding. On January 6, loyal Trump supporters stormed the capital in an attempt to stop the ceremony that would certify Biden as president. Trump first refused to acknowledge the results of the election when he spoke to his followers and claimed that the election was stolen through fraud. His team pursued dozens of lawsuits against the democrats, however, their claims were repeatedly rejected. On the day of the riots, Trump held a rally near Congress, where he urged his supporters to “fight like hell” and march to the White House. 140 police officers were injured while trying to defend the government buildings, however, they were able to stop the rebels from entering congress. Shortly after, the Justice Department launched a nationwide investigation and arrested more than 1000 people.
Hush Money Case
Days before the 2016 election, Trump’s attorney Micheal Cohen sent adult film star Stormy Daniels $130,000 in “hush money” payment. Prosecutors said this money was meant to buy Daniel’s silence, who previously had intercourse with the President-Elect, however, Trump denies these claims. In 2017, Cohen and Allen Weisselberg, an executive at the Trump Organization, reached a deal on how Cohen would be reimbursed for the money he sent Daniels. Cohen would receive $130,000 plus additional fees for services he offered Trump. The end total was $420,000. The arrangement said that Cohen would be paid in monthly increments. The first 3 payments came from Trump’s trust account, however, the final nine came from his personal account. Later, Cohen was arrested after pleading guilty to tax evasion and breaking campaign finance rules. He originally said that Trump had nothing to do with these payments; however he later testified against the President-Elect.
Prosecutors focused on how Trump falsified his business records by categorizing these payments as legal fees when he was proven to have knowledge of the payments’ true purpose. Trump’s defense argued that his payments were for Cohen’s work as an attorney and also portrayed the lawyer as a liar when he gave testimony against Trump. Ultimately, the juror sided with the prosecutors and found Trump guilty of 34 counts of fraud under campaign finance laws.
Despite holding a criminal record, Trump will be the next president of the United States. The news of these results angered some and gave others hope for the future of America, as people believe that he will make the country great again. Despite his presidency, records will always reveal him as a convicted felon.
Written by Suriya Rampersad
