Justice Merchan told Donald Trump to his face in his contempt hearing:
“you’re a former president and a current candidate, I really don’t want put you in jail”
He’s not going to sentence him to a day behind bars and anyone who thinks he will is delusional, Justice Merchan already stated his intent and it’s in the public record.
Intent isn’t the same as what will happen, the law does prescribe what he must do, and if that violates his intent, so be it.
But it does mean he’ll presumably be on the lenient side of what he’s allowed to do, which means it’s very unlikely Trump’s going to jail as a result of this conviction. Unless he ends up with a negative recommendation from the probation officer, which seems unlikely from what has been said publicly. But I wouldn’t say “absolutely not” yet.
Justice Merchan told Donald Trump to his face in his contempt hearing:
“you’re a former president and a current candidate, I really don’t want put you in jail”
He’s not going to sentence him to a day behind bars and anyone who thinks he will is delusional, Justice Merchan already stated his intent and it’s in the public record.
Intent isn’t the same as what will happen, the law does prescribe what he must do, and if that violates his intent, so be it.
But it does mean he’ll presumably be on the lenient side of what he’s allowed to do, which means it’s very unlikely Trump’s going to jail as a result of this conviction. Unless he ends up with a negative recommendation from the probation officer, which seems unlikely from what has been said publicly. But I wouldn’t say “absolutely not” yet.