When is Donald Trump's sentencing date? Here's what to know after historical conviction
Former President Donald Trump became the first U.S. president convicted of a crime Thursday after he was found guilty on all 34 counts in his New York criminal hush money trial.
A jury convicted the Republican presidential frontrunner of falsifying business records to hide a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election. Prosecutors alleged Trump disguised a $130,000 hush money payment as legal expenses.
Each count is tied to a different business record including 11 checks paid to former lawyer Michael Cohen, 11 invoices from Michael Cohen and 12 entries in Trump's ledgers.
While the first criminal trial in United States history against a former president may have concluded with a conviction, it may have created more uncertainty for what's next before November's election. Here's what to know.
Donald Trump's guilty verdict: How will it hit his reelection bid? Is his political fallout here?
Recap: Donald Trump found guilty on all counts in historic NY hush money trial
When is Donald Trump's sentencing date?
Donald Trump's sentencing date has been scheduled for July 11 by Judge Juan Merchan. The presumptive GOP presidential nominee is out free at least until then.
The date sits between his first debate appearance against President Joe Biden and the Republican National Convention, where he is expected to officially be appointed the party's nominee.
The first debate, hosted by CNN in June debate in Atlanta, will commence on June 27 at 9 p.m. ET. A second debate between the two hosted by ABC will take place in September.
The Republican National Convention is set to take place from July 15-18 in Milwaukee.
Can Trump go to prison?
Yes. Each felony count of falsifying business records − elevated to a felony because prosecutors proved the purpose was to commit or conceal another crime − carries a maximum sentence of four years. However, New York caps such sentencing the type of felonies Trump faced – Class E felonies – at 20 years.
However, any jail or prison sentence likely won't take effect until after his appeal plays out after the November election. Some New York litigators and legal experts told USA TODAY that Trump is likely to face only probation since he is first time felon and because he was convicted of a non-violent crime.
"With a defendant who has no prior criminal record, my absolute expectation would be a sentence of probation," Mitchell Epner, a New York litigator with decades of experience, said ahead of the trial.
Can Trump run for president as a felon?
The U.S. Constitution does not prohibit convicted felons from becoming president.
The only three requirements for being president are: the candidate must be a "natural born" citizen, at least 35 years old and a resident of U.S. for at least 14 years.
Experts say states are unlikely to succeed in passing additional eligibility requirements for a candidate to get on the presidential ballot.
The U.S. Supreme Court already rejected an effort from several states to bar Trump from the ballot based on the 14th Amendment, which prevents anyone who has engaged in insurrection after swearing to uphold the Constitution (by being sworn into office, for example), from holding office again.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When is Trump's sentencing date? What to know after guilty verdict
