Trump could go to jail for a hush money scheme that deceived voters, experts say

Donald Trump is charged in two criminal cases for his alleged attempts to overturn 2020 presidential election results, relying on pressure campaigns and baseless legal challenges to cling on to power after losing to President Joe Biden.

But his upcoming trial on charges connected to a so-called hush-money scheme to bury politically compromising stories of his alleged affairs is also an election interference case, one that stems from his efforts to win the White House in 2016 by any means, according to prosecutors and legal experts.

The trial, which is scheduled to begin on 15 April, serves as a “precursor” to his 2020 cases, all of which involve Mr Trump “deceiving voters to grasp power,” according to Norm Eisen, former special counsel to the House Judiciary Committee majority during Mr Trump’s first impeachment.

And it’s one that could land him in jail.

“Some might think this is a no-jail crime … but when you have falsification of business records associated with or intended to aid, conceal or commit serious crimes, that receives sentences of jail time regularly,” Mr Eisen told reporters on Thursday. “And this is the most serious falsifying business records case … that New York has ever seen.”

The former president is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records, which on their own are considered misdemeanours. But those charges are elevated to Class E felony crimes if they’re attached to a wider criminal scheme, which in Mr Trump’s case could include alleged violations of state and federal election laws.

Class E felony convictions in New York could include state prison sentences of one to four years.

Mr Trump’s lack of prior convictions, his unpredictable behaviour in and out of court, and whether jurors can be