Republicans respond to jury verdict
Senate Republicans voice concerns over President Trump’s viability as the 2024 presidential candidate after a civilian jury found he had sexually abused writer E. Jean Carroll and ordered him to pay him $5 million in damages.
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) argued that the verdict is further evidence that Trump has no business being the face of the Republican Party.
“I hope that the American people, the jury of the American people, will come to the same conclusion as the jury of their peers, that Donald Trump should not be our candidate and that he certainly should not be President of the States United,” Romney said. said. “We have other highly qualified people who could lead our party to victory, and someone who has been convicted of sexual assault should not be the face of the Republican Party.”
“I think there’s bound to be people who say, ‘You know, I don’t think it’s a good idea to have someone who’s been convicted of sexual assault to be the face of my kids. and my grandchildren and the world,’ Romney said.
A number of other Senate Republicans have questioned Trump’s ability to win a nonconsecutive second term if he is the GOP presidential nominee next year.
“If it was your sister, what would you think?” Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) said. “It kind of speaks for itself. You feel for Miss Carroll, a woman shouldn’t be assaulted, period, end of story, period.
Other Republican senators were more vague in their rebuke of Trump’s actions. “I think it clearly depends on the voters. They will understand what is important to them,” commented Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.).
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) said he still believes the ex-president would be the GOP presidential nominee and added that Trump’s sexual abuse conviction would make the general election “interesting.”
What’s next for Trump
Because the case was tried in civil court, Trump will not have to register as a sex offender. But the jury’s decision could affect the opinion that many American voters have of him.
Meanwhile, Trump continues to maintain his innocence on Truth Social, despite refusing to take a stand. swears under oath that he is innocent. As a presidential candidate, he is unlikely to admit wrongdoing despite evidence to the contrary.
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FAQs
What is the difference between civil and criminal cases?
Both civil and criminal cases look at violations of people’s rights and who is at fault. However, they differ in their structure, standards of proof and sanctions.
A civil case involves a dispute between two people, or parties, over a certain matter. One party sues the other and the jury determines liability and the amount of damages. The court can order the offending party to pay a sum of money to the aggrieved party or to fulfill an obligation.
Criminal law views a crime as an act against society as a whole rather than an individual. Therefore, the government takes legal action against a person for committing a crime. If found guilty, the defendant may have to pay a fine, serve jail time, or be placed on probation.
Because the prison sentence is such a severe consequence, the standard of proof is higher in criminal cases – where a crime must be proven “beyond a reasonable doubt”, whereas civil cases are proven with ” the preponderance of the evidence”.
Will Trump have to register as a sex offender?
No, since he was found to be “responsible” in civil proceedings instead of “guilty” in criminal matters, he will not have to register.
Was Trump convicted of rape?
Because the case was tried in civil court, the jury was not asked whether Trump was guilty or innocent of raping Jean Carroll. Rather, they had to decide whether he was responsible or not. The jury ultimately decided that Trump was liable for defamation and sexual assault, but stopped short of holding him liable for rape.
Can Trump still run for president in 2024?
The American Constitution defines only three conditions to be eligible for the presidency. First, that the person is a natural citizen of the country; second, that the person is at least 35 years old; and third, that the person has resided in the United States for at least 14 years. So regardless of whether the jury found Trump liable for sexual assault and defamation, he can still run and be elected president. There are no legal impediments to running for president as a convicted felon or even behind bars. However, the scandal could affect American public opinion of Trump and deter voters from supporting him.
