"Appropriate and warranted" seem to be the key words here to avoid putting Trump in a cell for a while. I'm not sure if they would actually go ahead with such a decision if it comes to that.
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Max 30 days in NY. Though usually you'd start small and escalate - maybe just for a lunchtime to start with.
I know we talk about this alot with the contempt stuff.. but there is a reason the judge is avoid tossing Trump in a cell.
It would give him an excuse to run to appeals court and get just what he wants.. a delay
It would give him an excuse to run to appeals court and get just what he wants.. a delay
Given the way he morosely tells the press outside the courtroom that he can't comment now, and that he's dialed down attacking the witnesses on Truth Social, it does seem like the fines and the gag order are working, no? I mean, I don't follow him on Truth Social, so maybe I've missed stuff, but it does seem like he's stopped.
It's been suggested the judge can impose jail time AFTER the case has concluded.
Now that would be something!
Here's my thought process.. the constant contempt charges are NOT going to help him come sentencing time.
It shows a complete disregard for the law and the judge will NOT take that lightly.
It shows a complete disregard for the law and the judge will NOT take that lightly.
It definitely would be something but also let's be real this guy would have probably the easiest jail time anyone has ever seen. Segregated from everyone most likely and no doubt all the prison guards would be on his side and give him anything he wants.
Whether he's sufficiently miserable while incarcerated is secondary to the fact that just being stuck behind bars for any nontrivial amount of time is bad news for somebody trying to run a campaign. He wouldn't be holding rallies, doing fundraisers, and would be pretty much out of the news cycle for the duration. So despite all his bluster about being willing to go to jail like some sort of martyr, that's really not a place he wants to be.
If he's found guilty for something other than a misdemeanor, maybe. That's far from a guarantee at this point.
Right. It's never going to happen
Is that not a strong argument for the defense? It casts someone else as the person making the decision to commit the fraud
The first time will probably just be a day or whatever and he'll come out of that defiant. At this point I don't care how he weathers these things. Contempt is probably the only way he sees the inside of a jail cell for this case anyway. I mostly just want the guilty verdict to take the kid gloves off the sentencing for more serious stuff.
If he does go to jail I hope they don't clean the cell before he goes into it. He's a serious germophobe and needs to sweat in there.
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It's one link in the chain. McConney told the clerks, but he was told by Weisselberg, who was in the meeting with Trump and Cohen.
Why would locking him up lead to the whole thing getting appealed and delayed? Say he has to spend a night in jail between one trial day and the next... that's the normal reality for many people on trial.
Not asking rhetorically. Is that a thing?
Not asking rhetorically. Is that a thing?
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That doesn't sound like a punishment for Don, he would just use it as an opportunity to nap without people noticing.
Seems like he only claims that (incorrectly) when he doesn't want to answer a question
I agree with this, even if I don't agree with the idea of not throwing him in jail because he may appeal. The appeal will fail and I don't see why it would delay the trial. It just might delay his serving the time for contempt. But I'm not sure how any of that works.
But as far as how all his actions will come back to haunt him during sentencing time, I agree and I sure as hell hope that is the case. People keep reiterating how there is practically a 0% chance he gets jail time here if convicted. While I have no law training I just don't see why. Trump is not acting like a typical defendant. He shows no remorse, he shows contempt for the judge and his staff. He has attacked and endangered even the judge's family. Even if probation is the typical sentence for a first time offender, it is still up to Merchan's discretion. And Trump has been so out of line I still say the judge has enough reason to use that discretion to say that a slap on the wrist will not suffice here. Trump, through his actions, has shown that he thinks he is above the law and will simply take probation as a victory and continue his lawless behavior.
With the way that man produces gas, are we sure that wouldn't be cruel and unusual punishment for his fellow inmates?
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I don't think it would. It is clearly in the judge's discretion and the appeals court would not want to undermine the ability of judges to conduct their trials.
Yup, it's infuriating at the amount of bullshit he gets away with. I'm not sold that the judge will put him behind bars for an extended period of time.
Exactly what I thought, then he'll use it to add to his t-shirt/martyr grift.
I believe he will spend at least one night in jail. Whether for this or something else. I firmly believe it.
He's not going to stop going after witnesses, and jurors, etc, when it only costs him $1000 a pop. He doesn't believe they'd dare lock him up and I want to see that shattered.
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How would that work? He's already being found guilty of contempt charges, why would he not already be appealing?
Yes, you can appeal a contempt of court order to a higher court. A successful appeal requires evidence that the order was unfair or mistaken, and appeals usually have a time limit to be valid.
So Trump's argument would be that jailing him is "unfair"
Which is why he's getting a thousand warnings, there is no way to appeal if he's been warned consistently and at length
It can still be appealed.. regardless of warnings.
Even if the appeal loses, it still slows things down.. and chills the jury.
The goal is to keep the case moving forward and all the evidence to the jury in constant fashion.
You delay things and people's viewpoints can change.
It's not his money though. So he appeals everything, every time.
On the one hand, he has been allowed waaaayyyy too many second (and third and forth and...) chances.
On the other hand still a lot of trial to go and the judge seems to be outlining a clear escalation of consequences.
On the other hand still a lot of trial to go and the judge seems to be outlining a clear escalation of consequences.
Great, now I can't unsee that. Maybe the judge really wants to save us all from that nightmare.