After JFK’s assassination, Congress said all presidents, on death, will be eligible to lie in state in the rotunda, unless the family formally declines.
Truman’s wife said no because she disliked DC politics. Nixon’s family opted out because they worried it would become a circus.
Whether or not Trump is convicted and/or dies in prison is irrelevant under the current rules. He was still president and he will still be eligible based on his final wishes as expressed and enforced by his family. When Congress made their decree after JFK, they obviously didn’t have the foresight to include an exception saying “unless the guy’s a goddamn criminal.” So this will be a question in a few years.
Presumably Melania gets the final say, which is an interesting wrinkle, but his kids will want to weigh in.
And it’s possible Congress could grow a spine and update the rules. Ha ha, Congress growing a spine, I crack myself up.
So what happens?