Trump’s sentencing prevents him from owning firearms, forces him to provide DNA sample

Under federal law, Trump’s felony conviction bars him from possessing a firearm. He is also required to provide a DNA sample for New York’s state crime databank, per the Associated Press. After getting a cheek swab, state police analyze the material and create a profile that is entered into the databank. Automated searches are then conducted, comparing the profiles of those convicted of crimes with the profiles of DNA collected at crime scenes, with matches being used to identify suspects in unsolved crimes. Over 720,000 offenders are in the New York database, which is connected to the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System.

The unconditional discharge sentence will not affect Trump’s right to vote. Trump is registered to vote in Florida, which bars those convicted of felonies from voting but restores the right after their sentence is completed. If a person is convicted of a felony in another state, Florida makes a person ineligible to vote only if they also lost their right to vote in the state in which they were convicted. New York prohibits felons from voting while incarcerated but restores the right after release.

Trump will not be prevented from becoming president, as no federal law prohibits such. Trump also will not be prevented from going outside the US. He will have a diplomatic passport a president, but will also be able to keep a regular passport. The Associated Press noted that some countries, such as Canada, the UK, and Israel, restrict or reserve the right to block those with felony convictions from visiting.

Trump’s sentence is also unlikely to interfere with his businesses that require liquor licenses. In New Jersey, where Trump owns three golf courses, those convicted of crimes "involving moral turpitude" are prohibited from holding a liquor license. However, Trump’s company has said that Trump’s properties are owned through corporate entities, and the President-elect is not an officer or director of any entity holding liquor licenses.