What rights does Trump lose as a criminal? Check out the main questions about the case

Donald Trump's conviction by a New York jury on 34 criminal charges is historic and unprecedented. No former president or major party presidential candidate has been a criminal in the history of the United States.

A CNN asked readers questions about the Republican criminal trial case, which were answered below.

What are convicts prohibited from doing?

This varies by state. In New York, where Trump was convicted, there are “collateral consequences” to being convicted of a crime. It is important to note that criminals in New York cannot hold many public positions, including elected positions. But Trump is no longer a New York resident.

In Florida, felons lose civil rights, including the ability to hold public office and serve on a jury.

Although he cannot hold office in Florida or New York, there is nothing in the Constitution that prevents him from running for president.

Will Trump be able to regain his rights?

In New York, a criminal can apply for a Certificate of Good Conduct to restore all rights after a certain period of time.

The charges against Trump are class E felonies, for which the period is three years.

Florida requires criminals to apply for clemency through a special counsel, but in the case of out-of-state convictions, like Trump's, the decision is transferred to the state where the person was convicted.

If re-elected, will Trump be able to pardon himself?

Not in this case. Presidents have the power to grant pardons for federal offenses.

Trump was convicted of a crime in New York state court. This would require a pardon from the governor of New York, Democrat Kathy Hochul, who praised his conviction.

Can Trump still vote?

Probably. Trump is a Florida resident, and Florida submits to New York law on the issue of felon voting.

New York allows felons to vote as long as they are not incarcerated.

Will Trump face prison time?

Sentencing is scheduled for July 11, four days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

Judge Juan Merchan could technically impose a prison sentence – falsifying criminal business records can be punished by up to four years in prison.

But Trump was convicted of class E felonies, the lowest level of New York law. The businessman is also a first-time offender.

However, Merchan could also take into account that the Republican repeatedly violated a gag order.

Would Trump receive Secret Service protection if sentenced to prison?

Secret Service communications chief Anthony Guglielmi told CNN, after the jury reached the guilty verdict, that “the outcome has no bearing on the manner in which the United States Secret Service carries out its protective mission. Our security measures will remain unchanged.”

If Trump is elected president and the judge asks for prison time, can he be imprisoned while in office? How would this work?

Nobody knows exactly. Prison time still seems relatively unlikely for this crime.

One can imagine the involvement of the US Supreme Court or the postponement of the sentence until after its expiration, or even a pardon from the governor of New York in the interests of the country. But these are all just possibilities.

Has anyone been arrested for falsifying business criminal records in New York?

Yes. A search of previous cases carried out by the legal website Just Security found numerous examples of prison sentences imposed for this crime.

These types of convictions generally do not lead to prison time.

Can Trump travel abroad?

Trump's conviction does not automatically bar him from holding a U.S. passport. But it can make traveling to some countries difficult.

Thirty-eight countries do not allow criminals to enter their borders, according to the World Population Review, which states that some of these places deny entry to criminals “in advance,” while others do so only after such a conviction is “discovered.”

That list includes Canada and Mexico, as well as Australia, China and South Africa.

Can Trump carry a firearm?

Federal law prohibits individuals convicted of a crime from possessing firearms, and most states have similar prohibitions. A case challenging the federal ban has been appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, but the justices have not yet said whether they will hear the challenge.

In New York, convicted felons cannot obtain a permit to possess a firearm. It is possible that Trump will later petition a state judge to have his firearms rights restored.

In Florida, where Trump resides, the Sunshine State has a similar criminal disarmament law in place. This law prohibits people convicted of a crime in Florida courts from possessing firearms and also extends this prohibition to individuals found guilty of a crime in another state.

But under Florida law, the state's Clemency Board “will not consider requests for firearms authority from individuals convicted in federal or other state courts,” according to the state.

Is there anything Congress can do to keep Trump out of office?

Technically. But it's not likely. The Supreme Court ruled this year that Congress could keep Trump off the ballot if it passed a special measure mandating that he participate in an insurrection. That's not a problem in this New York case, and it won't happen when Republicans control the House as they currently do.

The Constitution also allows people who are impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate to be barred from holding federal office. Trump was impeached twice as president, but was acquitted both times in the Senate.

Is the gag order still in effect?

Yes. The appeals and sentencing process are ongoing, so the gag order remains in effect. This means that every time Trump criticizes an important witness like Michael Cohen, he goes so far as to violate the gag order, which can lead to penalties such as fines or even prison time.

Why isn't the Georgia election subversion case against Trump moving forward? When can it start?

The trial was delayed by allegations of impropriety against Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis for her relationship with a former prosecutor in the case. As a result, a trial date has not been set.

Trump's two federal trials are also frozen.

The Florida judge overseeing the case that federal prosecutors allege he handled tried to hide confidential documents from the National Archives proceeded too slowly and allowed procedural questions to pile up. The trial is currently postponed indefinitely.

In the federal election subversion case in Washington, D.C., the Supreme Court has not yet ruled on whether Trump should have immunity from prosecution as a former president.

Why weren't these charges brought years ago?

The payment for silence occurred shortly before the 2016 election. It was discovered in 2018. Federal prosecutors decided not to bring charges against Trump in connection with the payments, as did a previous Manhattan prosecutor, Cy Vance Jr., which was seen as a gamble when current Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg finally announced the charges in April 2023.

If elected president as a criminal, could Trump get security clearance?

It would be difficult for anyone with a criminal conviction to obtain security clearance. But presidents don't need to get security clearance. Voters essentially give access to all of the country's secrets.

What was the crime he committed that turned these behaviors into crimes? Why not prosecute him for these crimes?

Falsifying business records is a misdemeanor in New York unless the crime is committed with the intent to commit another crime. In this case, the remaining crimes were federal campaign violations.