Donald Trump Faces Up to 20 Years in Prison Per Federal Charge
Former President Donald Trump finds himself entangled in legal troubles once again, as he surrendered to authorities in Miami on
Nik Richie
Former President Donald Trump finds himself entangled in legal troubles once again, as he surrendered to authorities in Miami on 37 federal charges related to alleged unlawful retention of national defense information. This marks the second time in less than three months that Trump has been charged with a series of crimes, adding further legal pressure as he vies for the Republican presidential nomination in the 2024 primary.
The charges stem from an Espionage Act and obstruction of justice case overseen by US District Judge Aileen Cannon in Florida. Despite the disgraced ex-president’s attempt to delay the trial until after the 2024 election, Judge Cannon rejected the bid and set a speedy trial date, beginning on May 20, 2024.
Prosecutors from the office of Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith initially requested a December 2023 trial date, but Judge Cannon’s ruling accelerates the legal proceedings. Trump’s co-defendant, Walt Nauta, also faces charges of conspiracy and obstruction of justice offenses.
This federal case is not the only legal battle Trump is facing. He was previously criminally charged in New York for alleged hush money payments made to conceal stories of his alleged affairs ahead of the 2016 election. Additionally, he is at the center of another sprawling special counsel probe by the US Department of Justice, focusing on his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
The mounting legal challenges have led to speculation about the possibility of Trump facing jail time if convicted in any of the cases. This raises questions for federal prosecutors and judges about the potential implications of jailing a presidential candidate or a potential victor in the 2024 election.
The charges in the federal case primarily revolve around Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents, including willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and concealing documents in federal investigations. Each charge carries a maximum sentence ranging from five to 20 years, potentially resulting in decades of imprisonment if convicted.
As the legal proceedings progress, the fate of Donald Trump’s political ambitions remains uncertain, with the specter of the trials casting a significant shadow over his potential candidacy for the 2024 presidential race.