Trump In Jail? Many political observers have been imagining for many years what it might look like if the former president gets arrested. This week, we may find out.
Trump Headed to the Big House?
Donald Trump has never been arrested or indicted before, many years of investigations notwithstanding.
Also, no current or former president of the United States has ever been arrested in the country’s history.
Both of those streaks may end, as soon as this week.
Trump had said on Truth Social over the weekend that he expected to be indicted this week in New York, although his legal team has backed off a bit on the timing.
Fox News reported Monday that law enforcement officials have “met behind closed doors” to talk about the logistics of how a Trump arraignment would work. The talks entailed such questions as which streets would need to be blocked off and the deployment of extra police.
The Fox report added that because another witness will appear before the grand jury Wednesday, the originally reported timeline of a Tuesday arrest will likely not happen, and any arraignment would likely be pushed to next week.
NBC News Chief Justice Contributor Jonathan Dienst said on TV Monday that the grand jury may decide on Wednesday.
The Times report added that there will not be a “virtual” arraignment, meaning that Trump, who spends most of his time at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, will need to travel to New York to appear in court in person.
The New York Times also reported on the potential logistics of how Trump’s arrest would work.
“If Donald J. Trump is indicted by a Manhattan grand jury in the days ahead for his role in a hush money payment to a porn star, the former president of the United States of America will be read the standard Miranda warning: He will be told that he has the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney,” the Times said.
The newspaper reported that talks were held last week between the Manhattan District Attorney’s office and both the New York Police Department and the state agency that supervises the courts in the state of New York. Trump’s lawyers have said that he will surrender to authorities and fly to New York for his court appearance.
Trump, per the Times, will not be jailed, and will likely be released on his own recognizance following arraignment. It’s not clear if he will be handcuffed. And the Secret Service will likely accompany Trump throughout the entire process.
There are likely to be protests of a Trump arrest, as well as anti-Trump people showing up to see the spectacle.
“We do not tolerate attempts to intimidate our office or threaten the rule of law in New York,” Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan District Attorney, said in a memo to staff this week, as reported by Politico. “Our law enforcement partners will ensure that any specific or credible threats against the office will be fully investigated.”
The Times also reported on various actions pro-Trump figures have suggested, from in-person street protests to pulling their money from banks to calling Bragg’s office in order to demand he not charge the former president.
There were also suggestions on pro-Trump forums, per the newspaper, that supporters surround the Mar-a-Lago estate, in order to prevent law enforcement from arresting the former president.
This idea likely would not fly because, among other reasons, Trump is an active presidential candidate, and therefore would need to leave his Florida estate at various times in the coming months.
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In the event of Trump refusing to surrender or to leave Florida, it would likely put Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, his likely future Republican primary opponent, in a position of whether to intervene.
In public comments Monday, DeSantis said his office would not be involved in any Trump arrest.
Expertise and Experience:
Stephen Silver is a Senior Editor for 19FortyFive. He is an award-winning journalist, essayist and film critic, who is also a contributor to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Broad Street Review and Splice Today. The co-founder of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle, Stephen lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two sons. Follow him on Twitter at @StephenSilver.
Timothy Johnson
March 22, 2023 at 11:06 am
Trump did not commit a crime. Paying Stormy Danials was not a crime. Also that transaction happend over seven years which is beyond the statute of limitations.
Gunny
March 27, 2023 at 11:08 pm
I doubt the statute of limitations will stop them. However, if he is arrested, it will fire up his troops and disgust some independents. I don’t see how they come out ahead in this. This sets a dangerous precedence for Joe Biden. Remember the Mar a Logo records fiasco? Then the three incidences concerning Biden?
Mary Taylor
March 28, 2023 at 7:25 am
Trumps paying off Stormy Daniels happened over 7 years ago. It was all thrashed out when Trump was running for President. Why bring it up again? Enough is enough. Let the man alone.
Vern Schulze
March 28, 2023 at 2:51 pm
Unless you know more than Trump, which is likely; you still don’t know what the charges are. It is more likely than not, that he will be charged with financial crimes associated with creating false financial records.
SIMS
March 28, 2023 at 4:29 pm
IF DONALD TRUMP IS OUR NEXT PRESIDENT AND HE IS ARRESTED AND SENT TO JAIL: THEN GIVE HIM A CELL BY HIMSELF AND WHAT HE NEEDS TO RUN AMERICA. HE COULD DO BETTER IN JAIL THAN OUR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT ARE DOING TODAY. TRUMP HAS DONE NO MORE THAN ANY OTHER MAN IN WASHINGTON, D. C.. AND MS. DANIELS: WHAT MAN HASN’T GIVEN WOMEN SOMETHING? IF THEY SAY THEY HAVEN’T THEY ARE LIARS. LEAVE TRUMP ALONG.
Stephen Brown
March 31, 2023 at 8:53 am
Malicious prosecution, that is the crime here. Someone needs to sue the DA Bragg.
michael c hemingway
March 31, 2023 at 4:46 pm
I TRUST TRUMP JAIL OR NOT. BIDEN MUST GO
Knowledgeable 1
April 1, 2023 at 1:30 pm
I will say this over and over again trump popularity is wholely based on the show The Apprentice. That’s when the public became facinated with that idiot. I saw the show once and thought it was garbage just like i know this attention Whore is a phony. sorry maga sheeps you have been duped.
RL
May 10, 2023 at 4:29 am
Donald Trump’s record as President speaks for itself. Presidents Regan and Clinton also ran positive terms but without the blatant opposition of forces solely intent on permanently removing the block to their agendas at any cost. History will prove Donald Trump to be one of the most effective Presidents that our country has had the privilege to experience. A small detail about this article is that Donald Trump would not be the first President to be arrested. Ulisses S. Grant was arrested and went to jail as a sitting President for driving his team at high speed in a reckless manner. Grant paid the fine and was released. The arresting officer had previously warned Grant that he would be arrested if he continued this reckless behavior.