Can convicted felons be president? There are few requirements to serve as U.S. president. According to the U.S. Constitution, anyone who is a natural-born citizen, at least 35 years old, and has been a resident of the United States for at least 14 years can run for president. However, the question of whether a convicted felon can hold the highest office in the land remains a topic of debate.
Donald Trump is the first U.S. president to face criminal charges. In February 2021, the Manhattan district attorney's office announced that it had indicted Trump on charges of tax fraud and other financial crimes. While Trump has denied any wrongdoing, the indictment has raised questions about whether he would be disqualified from running for president again in the future.
There is nothing in the Constitution that prevents someone who has been charged or convicted from serving as president. The short answer is that even if Trump is convicted, the charges against him won't disqualify him from the presidency, legal experts tell us. However, the political fallout of a criminal conviction could make it difficult for him to win an election.
The indictment and other ongoing criminal investigations of Donald Trump raise the real — if still remote — prospect that a leading presidential candidate could face criminal charges while campaigning for the office. This could have serious implications for the election, the presidency, and the rule of law in the United States.
Former President Donald Trump, who was indicted by the Manhattan district attorney on Thursday, can still be elected president -- even if he is ultimately convicted of the charges against him. However, the political and legal implications of a convicted felon holding the highest office in the land are significant.
The vote by a Manhattan grand jury to indict former President Donald J. Trump raises novel legal and political questions because he is the first former president to face criminal charges. While there is nothing in the Constitution that would prevent him from running for president again, the criminal charges against him could make it difficult for him to win an election.
The trial against Donald Trump in the Manhattan court is scheduled to commence only in January next year when the nation would have warmed up to the idea of the legal and political implications of a convicted felon holding the highest office in the land. The outcome of the trial could have far-reaching consequences for the future of American politics.
In the U.S., the qualifications for running for president are deliberately low. Still, are there any laws that would bar a felon from running for president? The answer is no. While some states have laws that restrict the voting rights of felons, there is no federal law that would prevent a convicted felon from running for president.
