He really, really, double-dog—really, no kidding, really means it this time. From The New York Times:
In a moment of remarkable courtroom drama, the judge, Juan M. Merchan, addressed Mr. Trump personally from the bench, saying that if there were further violations, he might bypass financial penalties and place the former president behind bars. Justice Merchan acknowledged that jailing Mr. Trump was “the last thing” he wanted to do, but explained that it was his responsibility to “protect the dignity of the justice system.” The judge said that he understood “the magnitude of such a decision” and that jailing Mr. Trump would be a last resort. He noted: “You are the former president of the United States, and possibly the next president as well.” As the judge delivered his admonition and imposed a $1,000 fine, Mr. Trump stared straight at him, blinking but not reacting, and when the remarks were over, the former president shook his head.
I’m sure he’s doing all he can with a difficult case, to say nothing of an unhinged defendant, but what the hell is Judge Merchan doing with this mollycoddling? Telling the defendant that throwing him in the can for repeatedly violating the judge’s own gag order is “the last thing” he wants to do? And in open court? Jailing this recidivist blatherskite is a last resort? Why not the second resort? Or the third resort? Or the more recent resort? He spent the weekend violating the gag order to wild applause down at Mar-a-Lago. Of course he’s going to do it again and again. Two hours after Judge Merchan delivered his earnest civics lesson to the defendant, this dropped down my email chute:
This is all hands on deck. The liberal judge in New York just threatened to THROW ME IN JAIL. #1 They want me handcuffed. #2 They want me incarcerated. #3 THEY WANT ME SILENCED FOREVER SO THEY CAN WALK ALL OVER YOU! A MASSIVE pushback is needed—right here, right now—to let the whole WORLD know we will NEVER SURRENDER!
This is, by my count, the Fifth Resort. At least.
Charles P Pierce is the author of four books, most recently Idiot America, and has been a working journalist since 1976. He lives near Boston and has three children.
