Staff Reports
Americans are divided on whether former President Donald Trump should trade Mar-a-Lago for a jail cell after a New York jury convicted him of obscurely disguising a hush payment to an adult film star during the 2016 election cycle. Meanwhile, the majority has no qualms about Hunter Biden’s guilty verdict on gun charges, strongly believing he deserves to see the inside of a prison cell.
Opinions about Trump’s legal woes predictably split along partisan lines. According to a poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs, 48% of Americans think Trump should serve time, while 50% believe he should remain free. Astonishingly, this includes half of the independents, while 78% of Democrats are clamoring for his incarceration compared to a measly 12% of Republicans who wouldn’t mind seeing him locked up.
Americans are evenly divided on whether Trump should face prison time, poll shows https://t.co/RjkneDKl1r
— NahBabyNah #Trump (@NahBabyNah) July 8, 2024
Trump, who’s the presumptive GOP frontrunner for president, could potentially face up to four years on his 34 felony counts of false business records, though given his clean slate and the nightmare of incarcerating a former president under Secret Service protection, a lengthy sentence seems unlikely. State Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan is wrestling with whether sentencing will even occur after pushing back the sentencing hearing to September 18 to ponder over the Supreme Court’s stance on presidential immunity, which could potentially nullify the conviction.
Defense attorneys argue that the prosecutors slipped in improper evidence about Trump’s actions during his presidency, creating a legal quagmire. Prosecutors disputing these claims are complacent with the delay, allowing more time to duke it out over the defense’s objections in the coming weeks.
Remarkably, this drama unfolds just as Trump is slated to receive the GOP nomination in Milwaukee, sitting astride Election Day. A potential rematch against President Biden awaits unless the current Commander-in-Chief steps down due to mounting concerns over his age and wobbly debate performance, raising eyebrows over his cognitive stamina.
Meanwhile, in Delaware, a federal jury unanimously convicted Hunter Biden on three felony counts tied to his 2018 gun purchase. Prosecutors nailed him on lying on the application about his drug addiction. A resounding 60% of those polled by AP smiled upon the conviction, though about 32% weren’t so enthusiastic. Six in ten Democrats approved, and half think jail time would do Hunter some good.
The consensus on Hunter Biden’s fate is significantly less forgiving. About 57% said he should be sent packing to prison, while 41% argued otherwise. Public interest appeared skewed towards Trump’s case, with 77% staying informed on it, compared to 60% keeping tabs on Hunter Biden’s escapades.
The spectacle continues, blending courtrooms and campaign trails, leaving the nation agog with the latest twist in America’s unprecedented political saga.
