Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he would accept home confinement or jail time following his historic conviction by a New York jury but suggested it would be difficult for the public to accept.
Trump is set to be sentenced on July 11, just four days before the Republican National Convention, where the party will choose its presidential nominee to face Democratic President Joe Biden in the upcoming election.
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Prison time is uncommon for those convicted of felony falsification of business records in New York state, the charge Trump faced. The maximum sentence for this charge is four years in prison.
“I’m not sure the public would stand for it,” Trump told Fox News regarding the possibility of a prison sentence. “I think it’d be tough for the public to take. You know, at a certain point, there’s a breaking point.”
Trump plans to appeal his conviction, which found him guilty of 34 felony counts related to falsifying documents to cover up a payment to silence a porn star before the 2016 election. He needs to show significant errors by Justice Juan Merchan, who oversaw the trial, to succeed on appeal.
His lawyers intend to take the case to the Supreme Court if necessary. Trump, who has previously alleged bias by the judge and district attorney, reiterated these claims and insisted, “The United States Supreme Court MUST DECIDE!” on social media.
His legal team aims to appeal after the July 11 sentencing. If unsuccessful in New York state courts, they could appeal to the Supreme Court, requiring four of the nine justices to agree to hear the case and proving a violation of Trump’s federal constitutional rights.
Trump has used his conviction to boost fundraising but has not mobilized his supporters like he did following his 2020 loss to Biden, which led to the January 6 Capitol attack. Republican National Committee Co-Chair Lara Trump urged supporters to “protest at the ballot box.”
Some Trump supporters have used the inverted US flag, a symbol of distress or protest, following the verdict. Democratic Representative Adam Schiff expressed concern about potential violence from Trump’s base, while House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized lawful responses.
The issue is expected to extend beyond the November presidential election, with Trump facing three other criminal cases. He denies wrongdoing in all cases, claiming they are part of a Democratic plot to stop him from running.
President Biden has defended the justice system, calling it “reckless” and “dangerous” to label the verdict “rigged.” The US Justice Department denies any political interference.
