As Donald Trump’s criminal hush money trial continues the US Secret Service has held meetings and started planning for what will happen if the former President and assumed Republican candidate is held in contempt, with the potential for Judge Juan Merchan to send him to short-term confinement.
Judge Merchan on Tuesday reserved a decision on the matter after a tense hearing with prosecutors saying at this point they are seeking a fine rather than jail time for the former president. “We are not yet seeking an incarceratory penalty,” Assistant District Attorney Chris Conroy said, “But the defendant seems to be angling for that.”
Officials are unsure if Judge Merchan would put Trump behind bars but they are planning for contingencies, the officials told ABC News.
READ MORE: Donald Trump channels ‘brooding Silverback Alpha’ trying to look ‘menacing’ not ‘fearful’ in court
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The former president and controversial business tycoon is on trial on felony charges of falsifying business records to hide the reimbursement of a hush money payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen made to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election, which he won.
The Secret Service declined to comment on specific plans in the matter but their input in his security would be required. “Under federal law, the United States Secret Service must provide protection for current government leaders, former Presidents and First Ladies, visiting heads of state and other individuals designated by the President of the United States,” the agency said in a statement.
“For all settings around the world, we study locations and develop comprehensive and layered protective models that incorporate state-of-the-art technology, protective intelligence and advanced security tactics to safeguard our protectees. Beyond that, we do not comment on specific protective operations.”
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Prosecutors argue that Trump violated his limited gag order. which prohibits him from making statements about witnesses, jurors, and lawyers in the case other than Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on multiple occasions this month.
Trump’s lawyers claim that prosecutors have not proven that posts Trump made on social media criticising Cohen and Daniels were willful violations of the gag order, telling Judge Merchan that the former president was defending himself from public attacks by the likely witnesses.
Defence lawyers also argued that the gag order is vague and allows Trump to make “political” statements, while he has criticised it for limiting his freedom of speech. Taking to Truth Social, Trump wrote, in all capitals: “HIGHLY CONFLICTED, TO PUT IT MILDLY, JUDGE JUAN MERCHAN, HAS TAKEN AWAY MY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH. EVERYBODY IS ALLOWED TO TALK AND LIE ABOUT ME, BUT I AM NOT ALLOWED TO DEFEND MYSELF. THIS IS A KANGAROO COURT, AND THE JUDGE SHOULD RECUSE HIMSELF!”
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