According to a report by Sky News on Monday, January 1, 2024, a former federal prosecutor, Glenn Kirschner, with a significant track record in trials, has projected a strong likelihood of at least one conviction for former President Donald Trump in the year 2024.
Glenn Kirschner told Sky News: “I think the odds of a conviction are extremely high.
It’s important to recognise who the witnesses are against Donald Trump.
These are not Donald Trump’s enemies or opponents, these are not angry Democrats.
“Interestingly, the people we know are likely to be on the witness list are almost exclusively Republicans.
Some of them are his own former cabinet members, his former attorney-general, his former vice president.
I believe the testimony we will see will come from a chorus of Republican voices.
It makes it much more difficult for Donald Trump, a fellow Republican, to say ‘they’re all out to get me’.”
Kirschner’s assessment revolves around Trump facing a staggering 91 charges across four criminal trials, with some trial dates already scheduled.
The initial trial, set for March 4, pertains to Trump’s alleged involvement in the January 6 insurrection and encompasses four criminal counts related to attempting to maintain power post the 2020 election.
What’s intriguing, as highlighted by Kirschner, is the witness lineup against Trump, comprising primarily of Republicans, including former cabinet members, the ex-attorney general, and even his former vice president.
This array of Republican voices as witnesses, as Kirschner pointed out, undermines any claim from Trump that his adversaries are solely seeking retribution.
However, the legal proceedings in 2024 coincide significantly with the election campaigns.
The January 6 trial’s timing, slated to commence just before Super Tuesday, a pivotal day for presidential nominees, raises the stakes further.
The Republican convention in July might encounter the dilemma of endorsing a candidate entangled in legal proceedings, potentially a convicted individual, as their nominee for the presidency.
The outcome of these trials could significantly shape the political landscape leading up to the November 5, 2024 election.
Surveys indicate that while Trump has experienced a surge in popularity during courtroom proceedings, a guilty verdict might sway a critical portion of swing voters, potentially impacting the presidential race.
Despite this, the unprecedented nature of prosecuting a former president makes predicting sentencing or its implications uncertain.
Kirschner highlighted the significance of punishing such offenses to prevent future threats to democracy, emphasizing the need for a prison term as a deterrent against aspiring dictators.
Trump’s legal defense, attempting to invoke presidential immunity for the January 6 case, faced a setback when the presiding judge rejected the claim.
Trump has lodged an appeal, while the special counsel prosecuting the case has sought clarification on immunity from the Supreme Court, aiming to mitigate delays and uncertainties.
However, logistical challenges loom as potential diary clashes might push some, if not most, of Trump’s trials beyond 2024 due to his mandatory presence in court proceedings.