Trump 'unnerved' by court case but would 'feel invincible' if found not guilty
Donald Trump would feel "invincible" and "enticed" to commit bad behaviour in the future if he's found not guilty, an expert believes.
The former president pleaded not guilty in New York, US, this week to 34 counts of falsifying business records and conspiracy for his alleged role in hush money payments to two women towards the end of his 2016 presidential campaign.
The 76-year-old previously said during his campaign bid for the Republican nomination in 2016 he "could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose any voters.”
And one expert believes if Mr Trump is cleared of the charges it will encourage him to believe he is "invincible."
Dr Thomas Gift, Associate Professor of Political Science at UCL, believes if Trump's base continue to support him he will be able to do anything he wants.
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Donald Trump will feel "invincible" if the charges are dropped against him (Gary I Rothstein/UPI/REX/Shutterstock)He claimed to The Mirror: "If Trump perceives there's absolutely nothing he can do for his supporters to abandon him it will entice him to commit bad behaviour in the future.
"Non-accountability leads to a situation where Donald Trump feels invincible and as a result acts in that way."
Mr Trump, who is the first US president to face criminal charges, is also in a unique position as previous leaders try to show some type of "contrition" or "remorse" when involved in a controversy, according to Dr Gift.
However, instead of using an "excuse" Mr Trump has decide to pursue "defiance" in his pursuit against the 34 charges against him.
If Trump's base continue to support him he will able to do anything he wants, according to an expert (AP)Dr Gift added: "The fact so many Republicans stand behind him is evidence America is polarised as he has a stubbornly loyal base and support manifests here."
Meanwhile Professor Bennett Gershman, Visiting Scholar at the Centre for American Legal Studies at Birmingham City University, believes if the made public were aware of Trump's alleged allegations it would have seriously damaged his bid for the presidency.
He claimed: "By covering up his salacious sexual misconduct through multiple false records – financial, tax, emails, and texts – he succeeded in hiding truthful information, which if it were made public would have seriously damaged his quest for the presidency."
Professor Gershman believes Mr Trump was "unnerved" by Tuesday's proceedings - especially after the judge slammed him for his inflammatory statements.
Donald Trump appeared in court yesterday for his arraignment (Timothy A Clary/AP/REX/Shutterstock)He added: "I think Trump, who seemed unnerved and unsettled by today’s proceedings, is on notice that if he continues to make outrageous and inflammatory statements, he may be charged with further crimes, such as obstructing justice, as well as being held in contempt."
According to Mr Trump's team, he has raised $10 million (£7million) since he was indicted by a New York grand jury on Thursday.
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His team sent out campaign emails to try and drum up support for the former president with advisors wanting his mugshot to be taken so it could be plastered on t-shirts and mugs.
However, he only had his fingerprints and details taken instead.
Trump's support has increased since he was charged (Getty Images)He is due back in court on December 4, but Professor Gershman does not feel the case will be closed anytime soon.
He claimed: “The case is on a fast track for an early trial. But that may not happen. It may depend on what happens in Fulton County, Georgia, and Washington DC, where Trump is being investigated for other and arguably much more serious crimes to influence the 2020 election.
“If he gets indicted in those jurisdictions - which is now more likely after New York has now taken the unprecedented step to indict an ex-president for the first time in American history – the New York indictment may take a back seat to accusations and trials on the other more serious charges.”
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