By Steve Neavling
As a jury prepares to deliberate in Donald Trump’s hush money trial this week, the former president’s Secret Service staff is making its own preparations – what to do if Trump is sentenced to jail.
The agency tasked with protecting Trump has met with jail officials, CBS News reports, citing a New York corrections source.
Since the former president is entitled to Secret Service protection, it’s believed that the agency would have to continue keeping Trump safe even if he’s in jail.
If the jury finds Trump guilty, the onus is on Justice Juan Merchan to determine the penalty, which could be jail time.
Merchan wrestled with that decision when Trump violated a gag order for the 10th time earlier this month.
“You are the former president of the United States and possibly the next president, as well,” Merchan told Trump on May 6.
Merchan said “the last thing I want to do is put you in jail.”
In New York state court, Merchan has broad discretion over a jail sentence.
“It’s much more informally done in state court,” former Manhattan prosecutor Duncan Levin said. “I’ve had cases where the jury comes back and says, ‘guilty,’ and the judge thanks the jury, and excuses them, and says, ‘Let’s sentence the defendant right now. Obviously, everything’s a little different about this case than the typical case.”
Trump faces up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine on each of the 34 felony falsification of business records charges.
