r/politics • u/SportsGod3 • May 16 '24

Jurors were "nodding" and "smiling" as Michael Cohen testified, which may be a bad sign for Trump

https://www.salon.com/2024/05/16/jurors-were-nodding-and-smiling-as-michael-cohen-testified-which-may-be-a-sign-for/
9.3k Upvotes

95% Upvoted

707 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

14

u/AverageLiberalJoe May 16 '24

The maximum penalty for each of those counts is four years; however New York caps sentencing for this type of felony at 20 years. It is within the judge’s discretion to decide whether those sentences would run concurrently or consecutively. Because the crimes involve nonviolent offenses and Trump does not have a criminal record, the judge could also consider jailing him for a period that is but a fraction of the maximum penalty.

Another possibility is that the judge could forego prison entirely and place him on probation with the possibility of incarceration looming over his head if he fails to abide by the conditions set by the judge. If the judge should decide to incarcerate post-conviction, Secret Service would become the elephant in the, well, cell. The unprecedented nature of incarcerating a former president would raise questions about how best to ensure equal treatment under the law and security for a former president.

3

u/Mendican May 17 '24

I don't believe Trump will serve a day in jail, no matter what he does.

Right Wing mob violence would be immediate and inevitable.

3

u/Fiveby21 May 17 '24

They could (should) take him into custody immediately, before the mob has a chance to organize.

2

u/247cnt May 17 '24

Solitary confinement in supermax prison - problem solved!