Neil Katyal said Manhattan prosecutors don't want to fine Trump as much as they want Judge Merchan to warn him that more warrant violations could mean jail time.
Neil Katyal explained what prosecutors are looking for from Trump's hearing on the violation of the restraining order. I think he obviously did. So they will instead say the gag order is unconstitutional. It is a violation of his First Amendment rights. These seduction orders are placed all the time in such cases and, you know, for the most important reasons. So I think the argument is going nowhere. Prosecutors here just asked for a $1,000 fine for each violation. But what they want is a stern warning to Trump that says if you do it again, you'll go to jail. And that's really, you know, the ball game that I think is more, what's the punishment going to be? Didn't He break Gaga's order?'
Video.
Neil Katyal on what prosecutors are really looking for in gag order hearings. “Here, prosecutors simply asked for a $1,000 fine for each violation. But what they want is a stern warning to Trump that says if you do it again, you're gone. imprison”. pic.twitter.com/83ssiz21MT
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— Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) April 21, 2024
Trump is not going to stop, no matter how big the fine. Donald Trump believes that his only way to avoid being convicted in this case is to intimidate and confuse the trial. The way to stop Trump's behavior is to threaten to throw him in jail.
The former president cannot post to Truth Social from Rikers. Trump is terrified of going to jail, so that would probably make him stop trying to overturn the trial.
A big fine will not stop Trump. An angry judge won't stop Trump, but the threat of putting him behind bars sure will.
are bad for Trump and seem to be getting worse.
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Jason is the editor-in-chief. She is also the White House Press Center and Congressional Correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a BA in Political Science. Her graduate work focused on public policy, specializing in social reform movements.
Awards and professional memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and the American Political Science Association
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