The judge presiding over Donald Trump’s “hush money” trial has warned that if the former president fails to attend court proceedings every day, he will be subject to arrest.
The trial, which began Monday with several motions and jury selection, has garnered considerable attention. It is historic in nature and could have implications for Trump’s political and legal future.
Jesse Rodriguez, MSNBC’s vice president of editorial and bookings, reported the matter on social media.
“Trump must be in the courtroom every day for the duration of his criminal trial,” he writes.
Rodriguez quotes Judge Juan Merchan as saying, “If you don’t show up there will be an arrest.”
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Trump Hush Money Judge Threatens Arrest
A transcript of the New York court proceedings provided by NBC News further shows the seriousness of Merchan’s threat.
“If you deliberately fail to attend court when required, then any proceedings in your case, including the hearing, trial and, if you are convicted, sentencing, can and will continue in your absence,” it says.
“A warrant of arrest will be issued for you and you will be subject to separate prosecution and separate punishment for release on bail, whatever happens in this case. You understand?”
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee lashed out at Merchan’s decision on Truth Social. He notes that the judge is essentially preventing him from attending his son’s high school graduation. Not to mention being banned from attending Supreme Court arguments on immunity claims in another criminal case.
“In addition to being banned from attending my son Barron’s high school graduation, I just learned that the highly biased judge in the Soros-appointed witch hunt case, Alvin Bragg, will not allow me to participate in the historic IMMUNITY discussion PRESIDENTIAL before the Supreme Court of the United States,” Thursday, April 25 (next week!).” he writes.
“This shows such great contempt and disrespect for the Supreme Court of our country, especially for such an important topic as presidential immunity, without which our country would never be the same!”
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Keeping him away from the election campaign
Trump also posted a clip of Fox News personality Laura Ingraham commenting on his case of “silence.” Ingraham notes that the left certainly would Love prison for the former president.
But if that doesn’t work, this judge’s decision will give them another reward.
“Their final fantasy, of course, is a guilty verdict,” Ingraham says. “But even short of that, they’re hoping this keeps Donald Trump off the campaign trail – and any kind of details that emerge. All of this will change the situation for Biden in November.”
“You can’t risk, after all, the people actually choosing their own president.”
This criminal trial for alleged “hush money” payments to porn star Stormy Daniels is virtually unprecedented.
You may remember that John Edwards, a heavy favorite at one point during the 2008 Democratic primary, was indicted by a federal grand jury in North Carolina on six felony charges stemming from attempts to conceal an affair using campaign contributions.
The Justice Department accused him of giving nearly $1 million in donations to his pregnant mistress.
But the case didn’t get very far. Edwards was acquitted on the campaign finance violation charge while the others led to a mistrial. The Justice Department would later drop the charges and refuse to start a new trial.
Why? Because his presidential campaign had been ruined and Edwards had walked away from politics. If Trump did not run and did not pose a threat to President Biden, this trial would likely not take place.
