The sentence in the New York hush money case for former President Donald Trump could be the first time in U.S. history that a former president was sent to jail. This could happen next month.
A jury found the former president guilty in May of 34 criminal counts of falsifying business records to illegally influence the 2016 presidential election. Several experts told ABC News that the former president probably won’t go to prison before the 2024 election. Trump will be sentenced on July 11.
Five of the 14 lawyers and law professors who spoke to ABC News thought a prison sentence was likely. Two said the decision was close, and seven said they didn’t think a prison sentence was likely because of the difficulties in enforcing it, the lack of precedent for putting first-time offenders in jail, and the political effects of such a sentence.
Most experts believed that Trump’s sentence would likely be put on hold until after the 2024 election, or until he wins his appeal, which could take months to a year. Before then, he would likely not have to serve any part of his sentence.
