Recent assassination attempts against former US President Donald Trump may be shifting public opinion in his favour as he faces multiple legal challenges, a legal expert said.
“Given that there have been two recent assassination attempts on his life, I think the criminal trials are now starting to work in his favour for his loyal base as well as those who are in the middle,” Brett M. Rosen, a prominent US criminal defence attorney, told Arabian Business.
This development adds a new layer of complexity to Trump’s ongoing legal battles, which include four major cases across different jurisdictions. The most immediate of these is the hush money case sentencing, scheduled for 24 September, just weeks before the November election.
Trump’s ongoing cases
Trump made history earlier this year as the first former US president to be criminally convicted. A New York jury found him guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The payment, made just before the 2016 election, was allegedly to suppress Daniels’ account of a sexual encounter with Trump years earlier.
The hush money case is just one of several legal challenges Trump faces:
- A federal case in Washington, D.C., regarding alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.
- A case in Florida concerning the handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.
- A state case in Georgia related to election interference.
- Multiple civil cases, including a fraud case in New York and defamation suits brought by writer E. Jean Carroll.
Tight race ahead
As the 2024 presidential race heats up, Trump is set to face off against Democratic candidate and current Vice President Kamala Harris. Recent polls show a tight race, with some indicating a slight lead for Harris. A New York Times/Siena poll from 19 September shows the candidates tied at 47 per cent, while other surveys give Harris a narrow edge.
Additionally, two other polls from the same day indicate a slight lead for Harris: she’s up by four points (49 per cent-45 per cent) in a YouGov/Economist poll and two points (50 percent-48 per cent) in a Fox News survey. This marks a shift from earlier polls where Harris had been trailing or leading by minimal margins.
The legal proceedings against Trump have faced some setbacks. The US Supreme Court ruled that he had partial immunity in the case related to his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. Additionally, a Florida judge dismissed the case concerning classified documents, citing issues with the special prosecutor’s appointment.
Expert analysis
Rosen expressed scepticism about some of the cases against Trump, particularly the New York hush money case. “It’s difficult to think how they got the case to a felony,” he said.
“Apparently, even during the trial some legal commentators were commenting on questionable rulings against Trump as well as jury instructions before the jury deliberated that did not make sense.”
The attorney also highlighted the unique challenges of defending a high-profile figure like Trump across multiple jurisdictions.
“It’s tough when it’s not only a celebrity that is a former President but also very disliked, if not hated, by the left,” he explained.
“A lot of media attention with Trump is usually negative. It also makes it tougher that he’s not only facing one case, but four cases in several different states.”
The sheer volume of cases against Trump could influence public perception before any verdicts are reached.
“Usually, when there’s more than one case and being as high-profile as it is, people tend to think that he must’ve or likely did something wrong before being found guilty,” Rosen said.
However, the recent assassination attempts have added a new dimension to the public’s view of Trump’s legal troubles. This unexpected development may be garnering sympathy from voters, potentially turning what were initially seen as roadblocks to Trump’s political ambitions into rallying points for his supporters, the legal expert said.
As the legal proceedings unfold alongside the presidential campaign, their potential impact on the race remains uncertain. Trump has consistently argued that these prosecutions represent a “weaponisation” of the justice system against a political opponent, maintaining his innocence and pleading not guilty to all charges across the various cases.
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