Donald Trump is the only former U.S. President and presidential candidate who has been indicted on criminal charges. While other U.S. presidential candidates or political figures have faced legal challenges, none have been convicted while actively running for the presidency. Here are a few presidential candidates that have faced legal problems or indictments while seeking the presidency:
- Eugene V. Debs (1920): Debs, a five-time presidential candidate for the Socialist Party of America, ran for president in 1920 while in prison. He had been convicted under the Espionage Act of 1917 for his anti-war speech during World War I and was serving a 10-year sentence. Despite being imprisoned, Debs still garnered nearly a million votes in the election.
- Aaron Burr (1807): Although Aaron Burr never became president, he was Thomas Jefferson’s Vice President and later sought the presidency. Burr was charged with treason in 1807 after being accused of plotting to create an independent country in the center of North America and possibly leading a military expedition against Spanish territories in North America. He was acquitted but the charges severely damaged his political career.
- Lyndon LaRouche: LaRouche was a perennial presidential candidate who ran in every election from 1976 to 2004. In 1988, he was convicted of mail fraud and conspiracy to defraud the IRS. Despite being sentenced to 15 years in prison, he continued to run for president from his prison cell.
It Could happen
These examples show that legal issues or even imprisonment have not necessarily stopped individuals from pursuing the highest office in the United States. However, these situations have varied significantly in terms of their impact on the candidates’ campaigns and their ability to garner votes, but, it could happen.
On November 5, 2024, it is imperative that every able bodied man and women, American citizen, go out and vote. The way things are in this country, these days, there is a very real possibility that although Donald J. Trump has been indicted 34 times for an array of criminal offenses he could still get elected president. To paraphrase President Biden the very soul of our nation is at risk.
“Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic.”
— Joseph R. Biden