Donald Trump made history last week as the first former or serving US president to be convicted of a crime, with 34 guilty verdicts for falsifying business records. The charges stemmed from ‘hush money’ paid to suppress a sex scandal during his 2016 election campaign. Surprisingly, instead of being a career-ender, Trump has taken a defiant stance, denouncing the case as politically motivated.
However, this turn of events has put Joe Biden in a difficult position. While focusing on the verdict could play into Trump’s claims of persecution, the impact of the convictions on voters is mixed. A swing state resident, Alice Herman of Wisconsin, found that many voters were unmoved by the verdict, reaffirming their existing support or opposition towards Trump.
As Biden aims to secure these crucial swing voters, journalist Michael Safi explores the challenge of shifting their opinions amidst the ongoing political turmoil. The uncertainty around how this verdict will influence the upcoming elections hangs heavy in the air.
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