Former FBI director James Comey has commented on the potential jail sentence for former president Donald Trump following a guilty verdict in his hush money criminal trial.
What Happened: Comey shared his views during an interview with CNN on Tuesday, where he remarked, “I would ordinarily say it’s unlikely [Trump will get a jail term] in a white-collar offense of this sort. But this is a defendant who’s begging for a jail term by taking a flamethrower and not just to the judge, but to the entire process and the jury.”
He further emphasized the gravity of Trump’s actions, stating, “A judge will take that very seriously into consideration in deciding whether to deter this person and to send a message more broadly. He needs to spend some time behind bars.”
Comey added, “Donald Trump cannot return to that Oval Office.”
Why It Matters: Trump was recently convicted on all 34 counts of falsifying business records. This conviction marks the first time a former U.S. president has been found guilty of such charges.
Following the conviction, Trump expressed his views on the possibility of jail time during an interview with “Fox & Friends Weekend.”
He stated, “I’m OK with it. I'm not sure the public would stand for it. I think it would be tough for the public to take. At a certain point, there's a breaking point.”
Legal experts have speculated that Trump could face community service instead of prison time. His sentencing is scheduled for July 11.
The conviction has also polarized the nation. A recent poll by ABC News/Ipsos revealed that half of Americans agree with the guilty verdict and believe Trump should withdraw from the 2024 presidential race.
Image via Shutterstock
This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Pooja Rajkumari
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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