Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has weighed in on the recent conviction of former President Donald Trump. Musk expressed his concerns on X, formerly known as Twitter. Moreover, he vehemently criticized the court ruling for negatively impacting the public faith. Whilst, this incident hasn’t significantly affected Trump’s election odds, which earlier was deemed important for a pro-crypto revolution in the U.S.

Elon Musk Backs Donald Trump

“Indeed, great damage was done today to the public’s faith in the American legal system,” Elon Musk wrote on X. In addition, Musk questioned the motivations behind the conviction, suggesting it was politically driven rather than a pursuit of justice.

“If a former President can be criminally convicted over such a trivial matter – motivated by politics, rather than justice – then anyone is at risk of a similar fate,” he added. Donald Trump, the first former US president to be convicted of a crime, was found guilty of falsifying business records on Thursday, May 30.

This verdict stems from his efforts to conceal a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Moreover, Trump faced 34 counts and was found guilty on all. With the ruling in, Trump now faces significant legal and political ramifications.

Now, Judge Juan Merchan must approve the verdict and enter a final judgment, typically a formality. Sentencing usually follows within several weeks, but legal arguments could delay this process. Furthermore, both sides will recommend sentences, which will be debated at the sentencing hearing where Merchan will make the final decision.

Moreover, Trump is expected to appeal the conviction. He may argue that the indictment was legally flawed and politically motivated. In addition, his defense will likely focus on several legal points. These include that state election laws do not apply to federal elections and that the charges themselves were legally improper.

Will A Prison Sentence Be Considered?

In the public domain, the big question now is whether Trump will go to prison. While the maximum sentence for falsifying business records is four years, it is rare for first-time offenders of this crime in New York to receive prison time. Experts deem fines or probation as a possible punishment in this case.

Given the logistical challenges of imprisoning a former president with a lifetime Secret Service detail, alternatives like home confinement or curfews could be considered. Despite the conviction, Trump can still run for 2024 presidential elections.

The US Constitution only requires that presidents be at least 35 years old, natural-born US citizens, and have lived in the country for 14 years. Even if he were in jail, Trump could theoretically be sworn in as president on January 20, 2025. As long as Trump is not imprisoned in New York, he can vote for himself. Florida defers to other states’ rules on felony disenfranchisement.

In New York, felons regain their voting rights once they are out of prison, even if on parole. The Republican National Convention, scheduled shortly after his sentencing, has no rules disqualifying a convicted nominee. Trump remains popular among the GOP base, and the party’s leadership is aligned with him.

Also, the broader implications of this conviction are significant. It marks unprecedented territory in US politics, especially as Trump faces three other criminal cases. The Manhattan jury found Trump guilty on all 34 counts after deliberating for two days. The trial included explicit testimony and evidence that implicated Trump in approving a $130,000 payment to silence Stormy Daniels during the 2016 campaign.

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