• bluewing@lemm.ee
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    6 months ago

    He IS a felon. But while he went through the impeachment process several times, he was never convicted. And there is no rule or law that says a felon can’t be president.

    While voting for Trump, or even entertaining his views, is a red flag warning. Like it or not, he is legally entitled to run. Perhaps the rules and laws should be changed. But to do that would require either a unified congress or a super majority of a party willing to do so. And I suspect, that as it currently stands, neither side wants to limit themselves from gaining the power and status of national or state office brings to them for any reason.

    • Evotech@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      This is by design. So you can’t just get some charges on your opponent and disqualify them

    • Hugin@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      Technically he is not a felon until he is sentenced. So he will be a felon on July 11th.

      That said I agree not letting people run from office because of convictions just incentives the state to go after political enemies.

    • acosmichippo@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      it could also be an amendment to the constitution if enough states agree but that’s probably even less likely.

      and i’m not sure it should be. i could definitely see a world where trump pushes for conviction of a Democrat candidate (remember all the “lock her up” stuff?). i hope the legal system is robust enough to appeal a rogue court situation but at some point it may not be. And elections are time sensitive, would the appeal even finish before the election?

      flawed as it may be this could be the best solution to guard against authoritarianism.