Dozens of people poured outside the E. Barrett Prettyman federal courthouse Thursday to witness the story: a former president being indicted for allegedly meddling in the 2020 election results.
Likewise, there were others who arrived with signs that said “No one above the law” to the Capitol to demonstrate in favor of the judicial process that Donald Trump is facing for the third time.
“The Department of Justice cannot be intimidated by the popularity of the former president, they must treat him like any other citizen. Furthermore, we ask the American people that it is time to stand up. We can have the last word in the vote next November “, opined the president of People for the American Way (PFAW), Svante Myrick.
While the eyes of the country are on this process, how do Hispanic residents of DC view this historic trial?
“Let justice be done for the disorders that took place then and for the people, for the fanaticism towards him. So they got carried away by what he. He would have to pay,” said a resident who preferred not to be named.
The new accusations against Trump will not only be a challenge for the defense: those who live in the District of Columbia say it will also be a challenge for the country’s justice system.
“It will be difficult. He is a very powerful person, he has many friends and we are going to see what can be done. There are many people who want him to run for president again, possibly what people expect is not what will come out,” said resident Félix Ayala.
We not only talked with those who believe that the former president should be brought to justice, but also with those who support him and trust that he will succeed in this new process.
“Everything is political. I have been following the news very closely and that always happens when the person who is going to run for the presidency is a good person and more than anything I think that this is the work of the opponents who are inventing things for him,” said Joel Larios.
DONALD TRUMP MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR THE PRESIDENCY EVEN THOUGH HE IS ACCUSED
Even though Trump has been impeached in New York, Florida and now DC, he may run for the White House again, experts say.
Quinnipiac University Political Science professor Scott McLean told EFE that even if a person is in prison they can run for election in the US.
“There is legally no reason why Donald Trump cannot continue his campaign for the presidency,” the professor clarified.
Similarly, in the case of Trump, “if he is ultimately convicted of those charges or others in other (judicial) proceedings, he could run for election,” McLean said. “There’s nothing in the Constitution that says you can’t.”
The highest ranking law establishes three requirements to be a candidate for the US presidency:
- Being a citizen by birth
- Being over 35 years old
- Have lived 14 years in the US
