Trump jail time

Question

This washing post article estimates that although Trump is unlikely to serve all of them, his jail time equals 641 years.

Answer 1

I would have to say that the article is technically true. I did my own calculations using the indictment PDFs (hyperlinked below). I also listed each count with its maximum for reference. It should be stressed that 641 years is still very unlikely.

United States of America v. Donald J. Trump

• Count 1: Conspiracy to Defraud the United States - Maximum 5 years
• Count 2: Conspiracy to Obstruct an Official Proceeding - Maximum 20 years
• Count 3: Obstruction of and Attempt to Obstruct an Official Proceeding - Maximum of 20 years
• Count 4: Conspiracy Against Rights - 10 years

United States of America v. Donald J. Trump, Waltine Nauta, and Carlos D Oliveira

• Count 1-32: of Willful Retention of National Defence Information - Maximum 10 years
• Count 33: Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice - Maximum 20 years
• Count 34: Withholding a Document or Record - Maximum 20 years
• Count 35: Corruptly Concealing a Document or Record - Maximum 20 years
• Count 36: Concealing a Document in a Federal Investigation - Maximum 20 years
• Count 37: Concealing a Document in a Federal Investigation – Maximum 5 years
• Count 38: False Statements and Representations – Maximum 5 years
• Count 40: Altering, Destroying, Mutilating, or Concealing an Object – Maximum 20 years
• Count 41: Corruptly Altering, Destroying, Mutilating, or Concealing a Document, Record, or Other Object – Maximum 20 years

The People of The State of New York v. Donald J. Trump

• Count 1-34 – Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree – Maximum 4 years

Total Maximum: 641 years

Sources used to find maximum years associated with each count:

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18

https://www.new-york-lawyers.org/falsifying-business-records-ny-pl-175-10-and-175-15.html

Comments

Wow, it's pretty insane seeing it all laid out like this. I guess the maximum is improbable but not technically wrong.

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Nice job! calculating the counts using the pdf.

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I love how you provided the information.

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I really appreciate the way you laid out these counts clearly and concisely. The maximum time seems extremely lengthy, so it will be interesting to see how this case plays out in court.

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Good job on using such detail. Great way to condense information by using the bullet points.

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very impressive that you took the time to calculate all of the indictments. The way you laid it out the counts in a way that is ease for anyone to comprehend is great!

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This was a great fact-check! I appreciate how you clearly laid out each charge as well as the case they are covered under! The sources seem credible and the way it was formatted was easily digestible! There was clearly a lot of effort put forth and it helped me understand all of the charges being presented!

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This was a great factcheck since you clarified that the maximum years would be 641. The original claim was misleading by making it seem as if 641 years was guaranteed.  The breakdown of each sentence was particularly useful in verifying the claim, as well as your personal calculations.

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Seeing all of the counts laid out in such a precise manner is incredibly impressive. Using sources like Cornell Law and referencing actual PDFs in which the counts are documented is great for fact-checking. I also appreciate how you stressed having 641 years was unlikely, but rather a possibility. It was a misleading claim, and it's appreciated that you took care of that misdirection.

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This was a really helpful way to lay out the information. Most people wouldn't spend the time looking at each individual count, but this was a very visual way to see it played out.

Answer 2

According to Trump's latest indictment (i have included the hyperlink to the pdf here), he faces 78 criminal charges.

Former Assistant US Attorney Sarah Krissoff stated that the Department of Justice would seek a substantial sentence if there is a conviction against former President Donald Trump due to the nature and duration of the alleged conduct, as well as the involvement of others allegedly working at Trump's direction. 

The sentence, if convicted, would depend on the judge, likely Trump-appointee Aileen Cannon in the Southern District of Florida. In relation to the January 6 charges, Trump could face a maximum of five to 20 years of prison time. 

However, he has pleaded not guilty to all three cases. Despite the legal challenges, Trump has portrayed himself as a victim of political persecution and baselessly accused his political rivals of interfering with his potential candidacy for the presidency in 2024. His next hearing in the January 6 probe is scheduled for August 28.

Comments

Therefore, the claim is exaggerating Trump's sentence of 641 years

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This is a really helpful summary of aspects of the indictment. Good breakdown of a hyperbolic claim.

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Nice analysis and background information. However, I didn't get a sense of whether the claim is true/false/misleading/etc. based on your fact-check. What do you think?

Answer 3

I don't think they will give Trump 641 years of jail but it could be possible that he will be in serious trouble if many of the felony and federal charges prove that he is guilty. As of right now, he has 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, 37 federal charges related to the classified documents found in his Mar-a Lago residence. Now he has 4 criminal counts for trying to overturn the election results. I believe for the next few years we will be hearing a lot of news from these court cases especially because Trump has filed his own lawsuits against media coverages and other departments.

Notable legal clouds that continue to hang over Donald Trump in 2023

Comments

I beleive it is 34 felony counts , 37 federal counts and 3 criminal cases.

Answer 4

This is True, however is misleading & exaggerated.

This assertion is highly exaggerated. The total is a result of unlikely circumstances, including consecutive sentencing, which rarely occurs. In reality, plea deals and other factors would likely lead to a much lower sentence. While Trump's legal challenges are serious, including 78 felony charges and 3 criminal cases. The 641-year claim is misleading. The actual outcome remains uncertain.

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/02/trump-prison-sentence-risk-00109544

Comments

If the claim is true, how is it misleading and exaggerated? The claim also suggests that it is unlikely that Trump will serve the jail lengthly jail time, so it doesn't seem like there is anything to mislead readers, right?

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I agree the claim is exaggerated, but the outcome is still uncertain.

Answer 5

It is noted that trump is going to jail but the amount of years that the article stated he will have to serve I will say is inaccurate. I say that because the years added up may equal to what he is supposed to serve but him having a clean record it's unlikely that he would have to face the maximum time for all of the cases charged against him. 

According to Trump indictment "None of the crimes Trump has been charged with carry a mandatory minimum sentence, and defendants with no prior criminal record — a status that, at least for now, applies to Trump — rarely receive the maximum. And if the 77-year-old former president were convicted of multiple counts within the same case, any sentences for those counts might run simultaneously, rather than being stacked on top of each other." 

It can be assumed that because he committed the same crime multiple times he won't be charged for everyone separately. Also, trump can have legal issues that changes the judge mind on the amount of time. The amount be estimated but is that amount accurate ? no 

Comments

I loved this quote!

Answer 6

While this post is technically true, it is unlikely Trump gets 641 years in jail for his crimes. This website states, "Trump faces four felony counts in this case: two for obstructing an official proceeding, which carries 20 years in prison per count, one count of conspiracy against the right to vote, carrying a maximum 10-year sentence, and one count of defrauding the U.S., which carries a maximum of five years."

https://www.news4jax.com/news/politics/2023/08/03/trump-faces-maximum-of-641-years-in-prison-in-3-indictments-heres-how-penalties-break-down/#:~:text=Trump%20faces%20four%20felony%20counts,a%20maximum%20of%20five%20years.

Answer 7

Trump is facing 78 felony charges with about 641 years in prison. Will he serve that amount of time? Absolutely not. The only real troubles he may face are regarding his two federal cases. The rest of the charges will most likely never be served. Another large factor why Trump will most likely not serve any jail time is because the federal judges would have a very hard time setting a brand new precedent on the fly while trying to sentence him. He is a former president after all while also having no prior criminal records. While all signs are pointing to no jail time, Trump will definitely face negative press because of this. Also his reputation is already down the gutter. We just have to wait and see what happens.

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/02/trump-prison-sentence-risk-00109544

https://www.voanews.com/a/can-trump-go-to-jail-if-convicted-and-other-indictment-questions/7219135.html