JTFMax:

During the midterm elections, Donald Trump dominated the news. He made headlines for his campaign to run for President of the United States in 2024. He has also been at the center of several investigations. The FBI and Justice Department are investigating the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, but these are not the only issues that potentially impact his bid.

Trump has said he wants to run for President and has been criticized for his lackluster performance during the midterm elections. Some of these critics are Republican officials and leaders. They have expressed concerns about Trump’s campaign and the legal exposure he will face if elected. In addition, they are concerned that his fixation on voter fraud is a liability.

It is unclear whether the Constitution is clear about a legal barrier to running for President. Although there are some requirements for running for office, the list doesn’t include any specific criminal charges. In the past, convicted felons have run for office. While a conviction wouldn’t necessarily disqualify Trump from the ballot, it could be a fundraising impediment or a distraction. Congress might act to bar him from running again.

The Supreme Court has ruled that states cannot prohibit a convicted felon from running for federal office. A full-blown trial may temporarily dissuade campaign plans, but it is unlikely that a conviction would have a lasting negative impact on Trump’s candidacy.

During his campaign for the White House, Trump argued that he should be given special legal protections. He said that he was a victim of a weaponized justice system. However, the U.S. Constitution upholds the right of voters to choose their representatives. In addition, a court ruling on the constitutionality of a presidential bid wouldn’t prevent a candidate from being sued or investigated. In the most recent race, a PAC funded by Trump raised more than 36 million dollars in 2022.

Aside from the legal arguments about the best way to run for office, other practical considerations should be considered. For example, a candidate’s fundraising is limited by imprisonment, and a full-blown trial could be costly and distracting. Another valuable consideration is that a defendant must have done something to warrant a trial. In other words, a defendant must have intentionally tried to achieve the desired outcome.

Trump’s business records offer a detailed look at his empire. They reveal that he has relied on donations from small donors, including those who gave $200 or less. They also show that many people in his base are loyal to him. It is, however, clear what his intentions were with his business ventures; whether these conflict with his duties as President is not yet answered.

Trump’s tax returns tell a different story. In the early 1990s, he guaranteed hundreds of millions of dollars in loans. Lenders threatened to bankrupt him if he failed to repay them. As a result, he has fought to keep his tax returns secret. But now the Supreme Court cleared the way for a House committee to obtain several years of Donald Trump’s tax returns from the IRS, a significant win for lawmakers that ended a three-year court battle.