- Title: Georgia v New York: Legal analyst compares Trump's court battles
- Date: 18th April 2024
- Summary: ATLANTA, GEORGIA, UNITED STATES (APRIL 17, 2024) (Reuters) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF LAW AT GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY, CAREN MORRISON, SAYING: “So either he gets acquitted and there’s much rejoicing in the Trump camp. There’s a hung jury in which case the case would be retried at some point. Or he’s convicted in which case he is looking at a maximum of four years in prison per count usually these run concurrently. That said, I don’t think there’s any chance he’s going to get a prison sentence even if he’s found guilty.” MORRISON LOOKING AT BOOK AT HER DESK (SOUNDBITE) (English) ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF LAW AT GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY, CAREN MORRISON, SAYING: “All these cases are for different crimes, in different jurisdictions, so there’s no double jeopardy problem, there’s no reason why all these cases can’t be tried at some point, depending on the political landscape.”
- Embargoed: 2nd May 2024 14:13
- Keywords: ELECTION GEORGIA NEW YORK TRUMP TRUMP TRIAL
- Location: ATLANTA, GEORGIA & NEW YORK, NEW YORK, USA
- City: ATLANTA, GEORGIA & NEW YORK, NEW YORK, USA
- Country: US
- Topics: North America,Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA003602517042024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Former President Donald Trump is currently facing two separate legal challenges.
In New York, he faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 election
In Georgia, Trump was charged with 13 felony counts, accused of pressuring state officials to reverse his election loss in Georgia and setting up a fake slate of electors to undermine the congressional certification of Biden's victory.
Caren Morrison, an associate professor of law at Georgia State University, points out that although both cases are distinct, the Georgia matter is considered more serious, though a trial date is yet to be set.
“I mean they were in much better shape last December they looked like they were going to be — in Georgia like it was going to be going ahead. Now it’s really anybody’s guess — they’ve wasted a a lot of time. The prosecution wasted a lot of time with the allegations of impropriety, which could have been handled better on their part,” Morrison said.
Despite his legal challenges, Morrison says the conviction of the former President in either case won’t disqualify him from the presidential seat.
"It’s crazy but the constitution has no requirement that you not be a felon to be President. All you have to do is be born in the U.S and over 35 — and that’s it.”
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