According to reports from sources within Donald Trump’s Secret Service detail, preparations are underway for the possibility of a guilty verdict in the hush money trial against the former president.
The potential for a conviction is deemed “high,” prompting Trump’s security team to take proactive measures.
Concerns over Trump’s future have led to discussions between his lifelong protection detail and local jail authorities in New York. The former president’s recent brushes with legal trouble include a $1,000 fine for violating a gag order, marking the second such instance since the trial began the previous month.
BREAKING: Secret Service has met with local jail officials in New York to discuss preparations for President Trump
— Paul Hookem 🇺🇸 (@PaulHook_em) May 28, 2024
https://t.co/XYBcyeZb3W
Last week, he incurred a $9,000 fine for nine separate violations, adding to the mounting pressure.
Judge Merchan, presiding over the case, expressed frustration with Trump’s repeated breaches of the gag order. He sternly warned that further infractions could lead to jail sanctions, although he emphasized that such a measure would be a last resort.
Merchan’s reservations stem from Trump’s status as a former president, as well as the potential disruption to ongoing legal proceedings.
There are also concerns within Trump’s circle that his Secret Service protection may cease if he is incarcerated in certain facilities.
Merchan claimed that any decision regarding jail time would only occur if recommended by prosecutors and characterized it as a measure of last resort. He acknowledged the significant implications of such action and expressed reluctance to disrupt the trial process unnecessarily.
“The last thing I want to do is put you in jail,” Merchan said. “You are the former president of the United States and possibly the next president, as well.
“There are many reasons why incarceration is truly a last resort for me. To take that step would be disruptive to these proceedings, which I imagine you want to end as quickly as possible,” Merchan continued.
Federal, state, and city agencies briefly convened last month to discuss protocols for handling Trump in a courthouse holding cell should he be temporarily jailed for contempt, according to sources familiar with the matter, as reported by The New York Times.
However, the prospect of incarcerating a convicted former president for an extended period has yet to be directly addressed. They highlighted that appeals could significantly delay sentencing, and the likelihood of Trump serving prison time remains slim.
Should Trump be detained, special accommodations would be necessary, including keeping him separate from other inmates and implementing strict screening measures for his food and personal items, officials explained. A rotating Secret Service detail would provide around-the-clock protection, despite firearms being prohibited within prison facilities, according to News Nation.
While Secret Service protections traditionally extend to current and former presidents, as well as certain high-ranking officials and immediate family members, Trump stands out as the only protectee facing numerous felony charges across multiple state and federal cases.
Trump, who is considered the presumptive 2024 Republican nominee, faces 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records to conceal a sex scandal. While potential sentences range from probation to four years in prison, observers note that imprisonment for a first-time offender of Trump’s age would be uncommonly severe.
