A majority believes that former President Donald Trump should not face prison time if convicted in the federal classified documents case against him, according to polling data.
A Politico/Ipsos poll revealed that 57% of voters believe that Trump shouldn't be imprisoned if convicted and instead should receive probation but no imprisonment, a financial penalty only, or no punishment at all. The majority of voters also believes that the former president should be tried prior to both the Republican primary races and the 2024 general election.
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The poll also showed that 62% of all respondents believe the case should be tried ahead of the presidential election in 2024.
More than half, 57%, further said it should go to trial before the Republican primaries in early 2024.
Last month, Trump announced he had been federally charged after an investigation into his alleged mishandling of classified records. According to the unsealed 49-page indictment, he is facing 37 counts. The document alleged that he had been "personally" involved in transporting documents from the White House to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. On June 13, the former president pleaded not guilty at the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse in downtown Miami.
More Democrats want the case heard before the presidential election than Republicans, according to the data. Eighty-six percent of Democrats said so, while 46% of Republicans agreed. Despite Republicans having less consensus, the group still makes up a plurality compared to the just over one-third who say the trial can wait.
Among independents, nearly half agree that the case should be tried before the presidential race. A similar number of independents share the sentiment when it comes to the Republican primary elections.
Republicans are more split when it comes to trying the case ahead of the primaries, with 42% saying it should be and 40% disagreeing.
While members of both parties feel similarly about the case's timing, they diverge when it comes to the guilt or innocence of Trump. More than half of Republicans say the former president is innocent, with only a quarter claiming he's guilty.
Among Democrats, 81% say Trump is guilty, and just 11% disagree.
A plurality of independents say they aren't sure about Trump's guilt, while 36% believe he is, and 21% contend that he's innocent.
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The survey took place between June 27 and 28, just a few weeks after the indictment. The poll interviewed 1,005 adults, and the credibility interval is plus or minus 3.8 percentage points for each respondent.
Trump has maintained his innocence and further stated that he will continue his campaign for president even if the court finds him guilty in the matter.