What happens if Trump is convicted and can he run for president? The key questions if the Republican frontrunner is found guilty in the hush money trial

Donald Trump can still run for president in 2024 if he is convicted of a felony.

The 77-year-old is at the Manhattan courthouse Monday as jury selection commences at the start of the first criminal trial against the former president. Trump stands charged with falsification of business documents related to the hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about their affair ahead of the 2016 election.

Trump has been charged with dozens of felonies since last year, including in the New York case, an election subversion case in Georgia and two federal cases – one on trying to overturn the 2020 election and one on handling of classified documents following his first White House term.

At the rate some of the cases are moving, Trump could be convicted of a crime before the presidential election in 2024.

Former President Donald Trump appears in Manhattan court on Monday, April 15 as jury selection commenced for the first criminal trial against him

Trump can still run for president in 2024 if he is convicted of a felony crime. Pictured: Supporters of Trump gather outside the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse for the start of the criminal trial against the former president on Monday

With nearly 100 criminal charges against the former president, critics and supporters alike have raised questions over whether Trump could still continue to pursue the highest U.S. office with a felony conviction under his belt.

The short answer: Yes.

The Constitution sets little eligibility requirements for who can run for President of the United States.

Those seeking the office must be 35-years-old, a 'natural born' citizen of the United States and have lived in the country for at least 14 years. However, no limitations are listed on whether a person running for president has a criminal record.

Some states prohibit felons from running for office in state and local elections – but those laws do not apply at a federal level to nationwide offices.

Trump still remains highly popular among his base and is the de facto Republican nominee after sweeping most GOP primary elections so far. The Republican National Committee (RNC) Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin this summer will officially crown him the party's nominee for the third straight election cycle.

Some states are trying to override Trump's ability to remain on the 2024 ballot.

The Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Trump could not appear on the state's presidential ballot under a provision of Clause 3 of the 14 Amendment that says those who 'engaged in insurrection or rebellion' after taking an oath to the Constitution cannot run for office.

But the 6-3 conservative Supreme Court struck down the Colorado decision, claiming that states cannot decide which candidates can and cannot appear on the ballot for federal-level elections under this constitutional amendment.

Anti-Trump demonstrators come together outside the court house in New York City on Monday to protest the former president and champion the lawsuits against him

Trump walks into the courtroom in Manhattan after a break during jury selection in the case alleging business record falsification in relation to payments to porn star Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about an affair before the 2016 presidential election

Several lawsuits argue Trump's actions before and on January 6, 2021, meet the bar for disqualification for office in the clause – but the 14th Amendment does not specifically reference presidential office and the former president has not yet been convicted of insurrection at the federal level.

The last candidate to run from a prison cell was Eugene Debs – more than 100 years ago. But the socialist had no real shot of becoming president despite running five times through the early 1900s and the final time while serving a six month sentence.

Trump is the first candidate in U.S. history that has a real shot of winning presidential office with a felony conviction should at least one of the cases against him emerge successful.