Can Trump be reelected president if convicted?
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Former President Donald Trump has been arrested four times, and while he should be presumed innocent until proven guilty, there’s nothing in the constitution that would bar him from running for, winning and serving another term as commander in chief — even if he’s eventually convicted.
Video Transcript
- Former President Donald Trump has now been arrested four times. That's four times more than any other former US president. But that doesn't stop him from potentially becoming president again. The Constitution actually has very few requirements for who can serve as commander-in-chief-- natural-born citizen, at least 35 years old, and lived in the country for at least 14 years. That's it. There's nothing stopping anyone who's been indicted, convicted, or even currently serving jail time from running for and winning the presidency.
DONALD TRUMP: That gorgeous, beautiful White House, we have to take it back.
- Except for, of course, voters. But if Trump were to win re-election, there isn't much he could do regarding the Georgia RICO case, since it's at the state level and the Fulton County district attorney, Fani Willis, is an elected official, not an appointed one.
FANI WILLIS: It is now the duty of my office to prove these charges in the indictment beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
- There is a chance he could work with his supporters in Georgia to try impeaching her, though it's unlikely to get the required 2/3 vote to happen. So it's entirely possible we could see a sitting president on trial if that case were to proceed beyond Inauguration Day in 2025. When it comes to federal cases--
JACK SMITH: Since the attack on our Capitol, the Department of Justice has remained committed to ensuring accountability for those criminally responsible for what happened that day.
- --Trump could technically dismiss them entirely if he's re-elected before the trial ends, since he'll then control the Justice Department. And if he's convicted, there's also the chance he could try pardoning himself, which no other president has ever tried.
