Consequences of Conviction and Presidential Election

If Donald Trump is convicted and sentenced to jail time but still wins the 2024 presidential election, it raises the question of what happens. While pardon laws in Georgia are restrictive, it is unlikely that the relevant question is whether he can be pardoned or not. Instead, the relevant question is whether he can fulfill his duties as president while in prison. The federal doctrine of preemption suggests that he would need to be released from prison to fulfill his federal term and then potentially resume his position afterwards. The same analysis would apply to federal convictions and whether they disqualify a president from holding office. Ultimately, impeachment and high crimes and misdemeanors would be the more appropriate grounds for disqualification, rather than imprisonment.