Is Donald Trump Going to Jail After Guilty Verdict? What to Know About Sentencing on July 11

Trump may not be disqualified from the presidency after his unanimous felony conviction, but he still has to get through sentencing, where he faces up to four years in prison

Former U.S. President Donald Trump attends the first day of his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court on April 15, 2024 in New York City. Former President Donald Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial.
Donald Trump. Photo:

Angela Weiss - Pool/Getty

Following Donald Trump's historic guilty verdict on Thursday, May 30 — in which he became the first American president convicted of a felony — much remains to be determined. Namely, what will Trump's punishment be and how will his 2024 presidential campaign move forward?

Below, everything we know about what happens next for Trump.

What was Trump found guilty of?

The former president spent the last six-plus weeks in a Manhattan courtroom during the trial, which hinged on a case brought by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, alleging that Trump had engaged in a "hush money" scheme in the lead-up to the 2016 election.

Prosecutors argued that Trump not only falsified financial records "with intent to defraud" — in this instance, to mask a $130,000 hush money payment made to Stormy Daniels — but that he did so in order to conceal a second crime, which elevates the charges from misdemeanors to felonies.

In falsifying the records, the DA's office argued, Trump was more broadly attempting to bury evidence of an illegal conspiracy to influence the 2016 election.

Prior to the verdict reading on May 30, New York Judge Juan Merchan addressed the courtroom, saying, “Please let there be no reactions, no outbursts of any kind." Trump was ultimately found guilty of all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

When will Trump be sentenced?

Minutes after his conviction, the court set Trump's sentencing for July 11 at 10 a.m. That means the sentencing will take place four days before the start of the Republican National Convention, in which the party officially nominates their choice for president of the United States.

Trump is the party's presumptive nominee after sweeping states' GOP primary elections and earning far more than half of the party's delegates.

Trump is expected to appeal the May 30 verdict, which could delay any possible sentence from taking effect.

What will Trump's sentence be?

With a jury conviction, Trump's claims of a baseless criminal case were rejected — and he now faces up to four years in prison.

But as a first-time offender of a non-violent offense — and, as a major party's presidential candidate — he is likely to get off easy with probation and a fine. Still, sentencing is ultimately at the discretion of Judge Merchan, with whom Trump has repeatedly sparred throughout the trial.

Can Trump still be president as a convicted felon?

Yes, a convicted felon can still run for, and serve, as president of the United States. Candidates for federal office must adhere only by the requirements outlined in the U.S. Constitution — that they be at least 35 years old, a natural-born U.S. citizen and have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years.

Trump's sentencing — should it take effect prior to the November election — could throw a wrench in that, particularly if he receives prison time. Though it's uncharted territory, some political experts have argued that any prison sentence would likely need to be suspended to allow Trump to run the country prior to serving time, though that is all conjecture at this point.

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What about Trump's other criminal trials?

The case decided on May 30 was the first of four criminal cases brought against the former president in 2023 — three of which hit on themes of election interference.

Trump's remaining three criminal cases continue to face court delays and are at this stage unlikely to go to trial before the November election.

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