2023 was a turbulent year for former President Donald Trump, marked by four criminal indictments and several civil trials, while simultaneously topping the polls for the Republican presidential nomination. In a recent striking development, a poll showed that a majority of Americans believe the quartet of criminal charges against him are valid.
Public Opinion: Justified or Immune?
A recent poll conducted by pollster James Johnson of J.L. Partners involving 1,000 likely voters reveals that 57% believe the legal actions against Donald Trump should move forward, with the majority deeming him “probably” or “definitely” guilty in all instances.
Minority Backs Trump’s Immunity
While most voters view the four criminal charges against Donald Trump as justified and legitimate, there remains a 33% minority that supports immunity for the ex-president from prosecution.
Trump Seeks Absolute Immunity
Several days have passed since Trump’s legal team presented their argument to a federal appeals panel, contending that he should receive “absolute immunity” in his federal election interference case, citing his actions as being within the scope of his presidential responsibilities.
Legal Shadows Over Trump Campaign
As of now, the former president finds himself entangled in legal troubles as he prepares for a potential showdown with President Joe Biden in the race for the presidency. Alongside the four criminal indictments, Trump is currently locked in a civil lawsuit that looms as a substantial threat to the future of the real estate empire that served as the foundation for his fame and presidential tenure.
Business Fraud Charges
The New York indictment against Trump accuses him of concealing reimbursements to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, who paid $130,000 to Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence about a supposed affair with Trump. Prosecutors allege that these payments were misrepresented as legal fees.
Trump has denied both the affair and the allegations.
Classified Documents Charges
The federal indictment charges Trump with keeping classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, stored in different areas, and attempting to hide this action.
He steadfastly denies any wrongdoing.
The Election Obstruction Case
Trump is facing federal charges for purportedly disrupting the peaceful transition of power following the 2020 election. He and unnamed co-conspirators are accused of propagating false claims of election fraud, which contributed to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.
Trump maintains his innocence.
Georgia Indictment Against Trump and 18 Allies
In Georgia, Trump and 18 others have been indicted under RICO laws, accused of attempting to interfere with the certification of the 2020 election results. This follows a recorded call in which Trump allegedly pressured the Secretary of State to “find 11,780 votes.”
Trump denied all allegations
Legal Woes and Rising Support for Trump
While Trump faces a complex legal landscape and many Americans regard the cases against him as valid, he is actually gaining traction with independent voters. Meanwhile, Biden’s popularity is on the decline among his party members and female voters, according to the latest Daily Mail national poll.
These poll numbers come after a different Daily Mail survey indicating that Biden is lagging behind Trump in two of three crucial battleground states.
Trump Wins in Hypothetical Election
In an effort to capture the national mood, J.L. Partners polled 984 likely voters through a combination of landline and cellphone calls, smartphone apps, and SMS messages. When asked who they’d vote for if the election were held tomorrow, 40% selected Trump, while 36% favored Biden.
The Future Ahead: Trump’s GOP Lead
While securing the Republican nomination remains a pending task for Trump, the situation will become more defined in January when Republicans in Iowa and New Hampshire choose their favored candidate.
Now, with the country in anticipation of a new leader, 77-year-old Trump currently stands as the clear frontrunner.
