# What if Trump get arrested and there is a brokered convention? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [April 6, 2016, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-get-arrested-and-there-is-a-brokered-convention/751307 "2016-04-06T00:11:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2016, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-get-arrested-and-there-is-a-brokered-convention/751307/1 "2016-04-06T00:11:03Z")
Say the authorities arrest Trump. He could face charges of bribery for the Carson endorsement. He could also face charges of inciting violence for some of his remarks at rallies, which supporters took a little too seriously. Then the GOP has a contested convention. Who becomes the nominee? Cruz? Kasich? Somebody else? ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2016, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-get-arrested-and-there-is-a-brokered-convention/751307/2 "2016-04-06T01:18:45Z")
Long, long, long before an actual arrest would be Justice Department inquiries and investigations, possibly by a special prosecutor. It won’t just happen out of the blue. Trump will have plenty of warning, and so will the Republican convention. I don’t think Obama really wants to deal with this hot a potato. The possibilities of a backfire are too high. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2016, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-get-arrested-and-there-is-a-brokered-convention/751307/3 "2016-04-06T01:19:45Z")
> [@boffking](#): > > Say the authorities arrest Trump. He could face charges of bribery for the Carson endorsement. That would be classic prosecutorial overreach. > [@boffking](#): > > He could also face charges of inciting violence for some of his remarks at rallies, which supporters took a little too seriously. Arrested for a speech act? Not unless he unambiguously asked the crowd to beat to death a specific individual. And I don’t see Trump doing that. > [@boffking](#): > > Then the GOP has a contested convention. Who becomes the nominee? Cruz? Kasich? Somebody else? Probably Cruz. But a lot depends on the final composition of the rules committee. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2016, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-get-arrested-and-there-is-a-brokered-convention/751307/4 "2016-04-06T01:45:13Z")
He can share a cell with Hillary, D. B. Cooper and Jimmy Hoffa. > [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Arrested for a speech act? Not unless he unambiguously asked the crowd to beat to death a specific individual. And I don’t see Trump doing that. \*\* _Get Cruz_.\*\* Actually, the book on which **Get Carter** was based was originally called ‘ **Jack’s Return Home** ’; a far better title. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2016, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-get-arrested-and-there-is-a-brokered-convention/751307/5 "2016-04-06T02:02:07Z")
Being arrested does not make you ineligible to be elected President. In fact, being convicted of a felony and serving time in prison still does not make you ineligible. (I suspect that the founding fathers left out any such disqualification because most of them, including General Washington, could be convicted under British law of treason.) ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2016, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-get-arrested-and-there-is-a-brokered-convention/751307/6 "2016-04-06T02:05:36Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > In fact, being convicted of a felony and serving time in prison still does not make you ineligible… Of course, you wouldn’t actually be allowed to vote for yourself. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2016, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-get-arrested-and-there-is-a-brokered-convention/751307/7 "2016-04-06T02:21:01Z")
What if Hillary, Bernie, Trump, Trump’s Hairpiece, and Cory Lewandowski all get arrested? ---
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2016, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-get-arrested-and-there-is-a-brokered-convention/751307/8 "2016-04-06T02:27:42Z")
I will admit that Bernie has been arrested. But that was over 50 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2016, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-get-arrested-and-there-is-a-brokered-convention/751307/9 "2016-04-06T02:58:03Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > Being arrested does not make you ineligible to be elected President. In fact, being convicted of a felony and serving time in prison still does not make you ineligible. > > (I suspect that the founding fathers left out any such disqualification because most of them, including General Washington, could be convicted under British law of treason.) Eugene Debs ran for President while he was in federal prison. He only got 3.4% of the vote, but his total was the highest a Socialist Party candidate ever received. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2016, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-get-arrested-and-there-is-a-brokered-convention/751307/10 "2016-04-06T04:10:05Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > What if Hillary, Bernie, Trump, Trump’s Hairpiece, and Cory Lewandowski all get arrested? Cruz could actually win the Presidency, though he might have lost in a tag-team match against Trump and Trump’s Hairpiece. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2016, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-get-arrested-and-there-is-a-brokered-convention/751307/11 "2016-04-06T04:21:35Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > Of course, you wouldn’t actually be allowed to vote for yourself. 😃 Bernie could. (Vermont is one of the couple of states that lets felons vote while still in prison.) ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2016, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-get-arrested-and-there-is-a-brokered-convention/751307/12 "2016-04-06T05:04:56Z")
None of things mentioned in the OP come anywhere near to being crimes. If they were most politicians would be in jail right now. Arresting him for any of those things will swing many more voters to his side and result in some unemployed LEOs. You also imply this will result in a contested convention somehow when it will not change the picture on that at all in itself. Arrests don’t cause contested conventions. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2016, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-get-arrested-and-there-is-a-brokered-convention/751307/13 "2016-04-06T05:50:59Z")
> [@boffking](#): > > He could face charges of bribery for the Carson endorsement. How many threads are you going to start that contain this nonsense? I think you’re up to at least 3 now. ---
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2016, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-get-arrested-and-there-is-a-brokered-convention/751307/14 "2016-04-06T15:39:05Z")
A criminal complaint has already been filed against Trump alleging charges of felony bribery. > **[Just In: Trump Is Now Facing Criminal Charges For Bribing Carson For Endorsement](https://occupydemocrats.com/2016/04/01/just-trump-now-facing-criminal-charges-bribing-carson-endorsement/)** > > \- Advertisement Above - Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has had a very bad week. From his campaign manager getting charged with battery for assaulting Breibart reporter Michelle Fields to his atrocious comments on... ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2016, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-get-arrested-and-there-is-a-brokered-convention/751307/15 "2016-04-06T16:23:13Z")
> [@boffking](#): > > A criminal complaint has already been filed against Trump alleging charges of felony bribery. > [http://occupydemocrats.com/2016/04/01/just-trump-now-facing-criminal-charges-bribing-carson-endorsement/](http://occupydemocrats.com/2016/04/01/just-trump-now-facing-criminal-charges-bribing-carson-endorsement/) Why wasn’t Obama charged for doing exactly the same thing with Hillary? It’s because it will never be applied in this manner or we’d have thrown every president since the law was enacted in jail. Maybe that would have been a good idea, but it didn’t happen and it won’t happen here. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2016, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-get-arrested-and-there-is-a-brokered-convention/751307/16 "2016-04-06T16:47:36Z")
Trump can manage his campaign from his cell. He’d have to use a jail phone though, and the high cost of collect calls from jail would burn through much of even his fortune. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2016, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-get-arrested-and-there-is-a-brokered-convention/751307/17 "2016-04-06T16:50:59Z")
> [@boffking](#): > > A criminal complaint has already been filed against Trump alleging charges of felony bribery. > [http://occupydemocrats.com/2016/04/01/just-trump-now-facing-criminal-charges-bribing-carson-endorsement/](http://occupydemocrats.com/2016/04/01/just-trump-now-facing-criminal-charges-bribing-carson-endorsement/) Just to clarify: > [@](#): > > The American Democracy Legal Fund has filed a criminal complaint to the Department of Justice over Donald Trump’s alleged promise of a cabinet position to Ben Carson in exchange for his endorsement, which is of course illegal. “Filing a criminal complaint” in this article appears to mean that this group has [written a letter](http://americandemocracy.org/adlf-files-criminal-complaint-against-donald-trump/) to the Justice Department asking them to investigate Trump. You or I could do the same thing if we wanted. It does not mean that any criminal proceeding has been initiated or that any law enforcement agency has found that Mr Trump did anything wrong. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-get-arrested-and-there-is-a-brokered-convention/751307/18 "2016-04-11T03:22:59Z")
I’d like to know why the OP is ignoring the equally vital (and only slightly less likely) question of what happens if Trump gets abducted by aliens. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-get-arrested-and-there-is-a-brokered-convention/751307/19 "2016-04-11T06:42:51Z")
> [@42fish](#): > > I’d like to know why the OP is ignoring the equally vital (and only slightly less likely) question of what happens if Trump gets abducted by aliens. I guess it depends on whether they’re legal or not. 😃