Former U.S. President Donald Trump has been formally indicted in New York by a grand jury over a hush money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels, which may well pump the brakes on his bid to return to the White House in the 2024 presidential election.
While Trump continues to maintain his stance of “no wrongdoing,” the grand jury’s decision means that Trump is now charged with a crime, a first for any sitting or former U.S. President. Given the historical nature of this saga, the question of Trump’s claim to the Presidency is a little bit murky.
We’re here to break down the particulars for you. Here’s everything you need to know about whether or not Trump can still run after being indicted in the Stormy Daniels case, or perhaps any further legal cases being mounted against him.
Can Donald Trump still run for president following his indictment?
Image via Brandon Bell / Getty Images
The short answer is, yes – he still can. There’s nothing in the Constitution that prevents a candidate with a criminal record from running for, and holding office – so despite his now-on-the-record misdeeds, Trump can still go forth and continue his campaign to return to the White House.
However, as NPR puts it, Trump will almost certainly have a more difficult time getting voted in following the events and legal proceedings that have recently transpired. All stakeholders involved in electing Trump back into office, such as the Republican Party during its Primaries, and the voters themselves, may be thinking twice about ticking the box next to the former President’s name, who has now been formally charged with a serious crime.
The Stormy Daniels debacle is of course, the first of Trump’s many legal troubles. He also needs to answer for his involvement in the Jan. 6 insurrection, vote tampering in Georgia, and mishandling of classified documents.
