Donald Trump's shock bookies' White House prediction laid bare after guilty verdicts
Bookmakers offered surprising odds for a Trump victory in the upcoming Presidential election after the 77-year-old was found guilty in his historic New York Hush money case.
Donald Trump remains odds on to win a second term as President of the United States after receiving a criminal conviction on Thursday, according to the bookies.
Betting firm William Hill says the former Commander-in-Chief has drifted slightly in the betting from 5/6 from 8/11 after he was convicted on 34 charges of falsifying business records in New York.
The verdict marks the first time a former president has been criminally tried and convicted. Despite this, the bookmaker continues to have the 77-year-old ahead of rival Joe Biden, who is 6/5 from 11/8 to win the election in November.
William Hill spokesperson Lee Phelps said: “Last night was a historic one in US politics as Donald Trump became the first former US President to be criminally convicted, and while that verdict coincided with a small drift in our betting market – out to 5/6 from 8/11 – Trump remains favourite to return to the White House later this year.
“Joe Biden has shortened marginally in the betting to secure a second term as President and is now 6/5 from 11/8, but it appears it will take more than a criminal conviction for Trump to replace his rival at the head of the market.”
A New York jury found Trump guilty in relation to a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to porn actor Stormy Daniels, who claims the two had sex in 2006.
The former president, 77, was convicted of falsifying business records in an attempt to cover up a hush money payment sent to Stormy Daniels.
Trump denied the affair and any wrongdoing. Following the verdict he lamented the "rigged, disgraceful trial", insisting he is a "very innocent man."
He told reporters the "real verdict is going to be 5 November by the people," in reference to the date of the looming US election.
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The big question now is whether Trump could go to prison. The answer is uncertain. Judge Juan M. Merchan set sentencing for July 11, just days before Republicans are formally set to nominate Trump for president.
The charge of falsifying business records is a Class E felony in New York, the lowest tier of felony charges in the state. It is punishable by up to four years in prison, though the punishment would ultimately be up to the judge, and there’s no guarantee he would give Trump time behind bars.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg declined to say whether prosecutors would seek prison time.
It’s unclear to what extent the judge may factor in the political and logistical complexities of jailing a former president who is running to reclaim the White House.
Other punishments could include a fine or probation. And it’s possible the judge would allow Trump to avoid serving any punishment until after he exhausts his appeals.
Trump faces the threat of more serious prison time in the three other cases he’s facing, but those cases have gotten bogged down by appeals and other legal fights, so it remains unclear whether any of them will go to trial before the November election.
The former President insists all the cases amount to a political "witchhunt" orchestrated by his political opponents.
