Donald Trump says he's “ok” with the possibility of being sent to prison or put on house arrest. (File)
Former US President Donald Trump was recently found guilty of all 34 felony counts in his hush money trial. The ruling by a New York court last week marked the first time a former US president has been tried and convicted of a criminal offense. But the case is not over yet.
Trump is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, four days before Republicans meet to formally choose their presidential candidate for the November 2024 election.
Will Trump be jailed?
A major question ahead of his sentencing on July 11 is whether Trump could face prison. In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, he said he was “not concerned” by the possibility of jail time or house arrest.
Asked about possible punishment, he said: “I'm OK with that.”
“I saw one of my lawyers on TV the other day say, 'You don't want to do that to the president,' and I said, 'Don't beg for anything,'” he noted.
But the former US president added that it would be difficult for the public to accept it.
“I don't know if the public can tolerate that… It will be hard for the public to accept. At some point there will be a breaking point,” he noted.
But such a prison sentence would be unusual for someone convicted of a felony charge of falsifying business records in New York state, which carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison, Reuters reported.
In New York, falsifying business records is a Class E felony, the state's lowest felony, according to the Associated Press.
Ultimately, it's up to the judge, and it remains to be seen how much he or she will consider the political and logistical complexities of jailing Trump as he seeks another term in the White House.
Other penalties in this case include fines or probation.
But the 77-year-old faces the risk of a much longer prison term in three other cases he currently faces, which so far have been stalled by appeals and other legal battles.
Can Trump still compete in the polls?
Despite being convicted of 34 felony counts, Trump will not be barred from continuing to campaign or run for president. He will be allowed to vote in his home state of Florida until he is released from a New York prison. After his sentencing, Trump can also challenge his conviction in the New York Court of Appeals and potentially the state Supreme Court.
