Trump's Legal Jeopardy: Impact on His Political Future

Former President Donald Trump finds himself in even deeper legal trouble as the race for the Republican presidential nomination intensifies. A Washington grand jury has recently indicted Trump as part of special counsel Jack Smith's investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

This historic indictment adds to Trump's legal woes, which already include a case involving hush-money payments, for which he pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts in April. In June, he was further indicted for mishandling classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Moreover, Trump is also facing another investigation in Georgia regarding his alleged attempts to overturn the state's election results.

Now, the big question arises: What does this mean for Trump's latest White House campaign? As he continues to push forward with his bid for the GOP nomination, let's explore some key questions and answers regarding the impact of these cases on Trump's political future.

Can an Indicted Person Run for President?

Tobin Marcus, a senior U.S. policy and politics strategist at Evercore ISI, shared an analysis in June noting that while Trump can indeed run, a situation may arise where a Supreme Court case becomes necessary if he is convicted and wins the presidency.

"Some charges in this case could result in disqualification from holding public office as a statutory penalty. However, it is unclear how this would apply to the presidency. If Trump is convicted but still manages to win the election, we would be venturing into unprecedented territory, requiring the Supreme Court to intervene and provide guidance," explained Marcus.

In summary, Trump's legal battles are far from over. Although being indicted does not prevent him from pursuing a presidential campaign, the potential consequences of a conviction and his ability to hold office remain uncertain. The coming months will undoubtedly be critical for Trump's political future as he navigates these legal challenges.

Can Trump Run for President if Convicted and Incarcerated?

"We reiterate, since many investors have asked us, that as a Constitutional matter, Trump can run for president if he is not only indicted but convicted and incarcerated," Marcus said.

What to know about the documents case and what's next

Q: Could Trump still vote for himself if convicted of a felony?

A: Likely not. Forty-eight states ban people with felony convictions from voting, according to the Sentencing Project, an advocacy group. Many states restore felons' voting rights once they're released from prison, however. Only Maine and Vermont allow felons to vote while still in prison.

Q: What other investigations is Trump facing?

A: Besides the criminal charges in New York stemming from the hush-money case, the classified documents case, and Jack Smith's Jan. 6 probe, Trump is facing another in Fulton County, Ga. The Georgia probe centers on efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn that state's 2020 election result.

Q: What has Trump said about the charges?

This report was originally published June 9, 2023, and was updated Aug. 1 after Trump's latest indictment.