Losing an election for the highest office is a devastating blow for any candidate. And for Donald Trump, the stakes are even higher. As the American electorate prepares to deliver its verdict, Trump faces a future that could include the presidency or the threat of prison.
If Trump claims victory, he will be the first convicted criminal to hold the presidency and have access to the nuclear codes. On the other hand, if he falls short, the 78-year-old mogul could face humiliating trials and potentially even imprisonment. It would mark the end of a privileged life in which he has always managed to evade the law and escape accountability.
For Trump, Tuesday represents judgment day.
Gwenda Blair, a Trump biographer, remarked, “He branded himself as the guy who gets away with it. But should he lose, he is facing a lot of reckonings. He could go to jail. He could end up considerably less wealthy than he is. No matter what happens, there will be a reckoning over his health. Death, ill health, dementia – those are things even he can’t escape.”
Throughout his career, Trump has pushed ethical and legal boundaries to their limits, facing numerous investigations, legal battles, and substantial fines. His life reads like a scandalous novel, filled with controversies on a massive scale.
In the 1970s, Trump and his father were sued by the Justice Department for racial discrimination, after refusing to rent apartments to Black people in predominantly white buildings. His property and casino businesses, including the Taj Mahal and Trump Plaza, declared bankruptcy multiple times in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Trump University, a business offering property training courses, was hit with multiple lawsuits for fraud, misleading marketing, and false claims about the quality of its programs. In 2016, Trump settled for $25 million without admitting wrongdoing.
The Donald J Trump Foundation, a charitable organization, faced investigations and lawsuits for allegedly misusing charitable funds for personal and business expenses. Trump eventually agreed to dissolve the foundation, with the remaining funds going to charity.
In a New York civil fraud trial, Trump and his company were ordered to pay over $350 million for artificially inflating his net worth to secure favorable loan terms. He is also known to have paid little to no federal income taxes in certain years, which, while technically legal, was seen by some as unethical.
Throughout it all, Trump maintained a strong presence in the New York tabloids and even hosted his own reality TV show, “The Apprentice.” He cultivated an image of extraordinary success and managed to overcome numerous obstacles, thanks in part to his father’s support.
But Trump’s personal life is just as tarnished. He has reportedly cheated on all three of his wives, and more than two dozen women have accused him of sexual misconduct. Disturbingly, an Access Hollywood recording from the 2016 election campaign captured Trump bragging about sexual assault. Despite these revelations, Trump still managed to secure a large following and reach the pinnacle of power.
During his presidency, Trump continued to be morally compromised. He made over 30,000 false or misleading claims, according to The Washington Post, ranging from the size of his inauguration crowd to the results of the 2020 election. He also became the only president to be impeached twice, first for pressuring Ukraine’s government to investigate his political opponents and then for inciting the January 6th insurrection.
Trump remains the subject of multiple criminal cases, any one of which would have derailed the ambitions of any other presidential candidate. In May, he was found guilty of falsifying business records for hush-money payments to adult film performer Stormy Daniels. He is scheduled to be sentenced on November 26th.
Throughout his legal battles, Trump has managed to sidestep accountability or use his predicament as evidence of his alleged persecution by a deep state. He has convinced many of his supporters that he is the real victim, deflecting attention from his criminal record.
The Democrats have chosen not to emphasize Trump’s criminal past to the extent one might expect. Instead, they have focused on the immediate threat Trump poses to democracy. Moe Vela, a lawyer and former senior adviser to President Biden, expressed surprise that Trump’s criminal convictions were not highlighted more during the campaign. Vela believes that Trump should face the consequences like any other convicted felon, without any special treatment.
Whether Trump’s luck will hold this time remains to be seen. If he manages to secure another term, he is expected to use his presidential powers to squash the outstanding legal cases against him. However, if he is defeated by Kamala Harris, his legal troubles will loom large once again.
Regardless of the outcome, Trump’s journey has demonstrated the significance of the justice system. Even a former president can be held accountable in court. As Americans reflect on this pivotal election, it is clear that no one is above the law.
