Donald Trump
The main obstacles to the re-election of former US President Donald Trump as head of state are the impeachment process and the threat of criminal and administrative prosecution. They were named by experts in an interview with RBC.
If Trump is found guilty by two-thirds of the Senate vote, he could lose his right to run in the next presidential election. However, Paul Campos, a law professor at the University of Colorado, believes that the impeachment supporters will not have enough votes: 45 senators voted against the politician's prosecution, and the remaining 55 will not be enough. A plea of guilt requires 66 votes, Kent Greenfield, a law professor at Boston College Law School, told RBC.
At the same time, Trump, in any case, lost his legal immunity after leaving the White House, because of which he has increased the risk of facing criminal and administrative prosecution. Campos recalled that, according to The New York Times, dozens – only about 30 – criminal and civil cases have been linked to the politician. For example, the state of New York is investigating possible financial manipulation of Trump, which he allegedly committed in order to pay less taxes. The ex-president is also accused of harassment and attempts to influence the outcome of elections in the state of Georgia.
“Trump can count on immunity for the actions he committed as president. Paying mistresses for silence at the stage of the pre-election campaign is not an action to which this immunity extends, “Greenfield said.
The impeachment process will begin after February 8. The resolution contains one article of the charge – incitement to rebellion. Trump became the first president in US history to be impeached twice.
On January 14, the US House of Representatives voted to impeach Trump over the riots in Washington.
On January 6, Trump protesters stormed the Capitol Building and surrounded the Senate Hall. The Senate and the House of Representatives interrupted a meeting at which they planned to approve the results of the last elections. During the protests, the police detained almost 70 rioters, five people were killed.
