A recent source has revealed that Judge Juan Merchan is considering various options that do not necessarily involve sending former President Donald Trump to prison. The judge has made it clear that he is hesitant to take such drastic measures for Trump's violation of a gag order issued on Monday morning, but he may feel compelled to do so if the breaches persist.
Instead of immediate imprisonment, the source suggests that Judge Merchan could opt for alternative measures, such as briefly detaining Trump. This could involve placing him in a holding cell located behind the courtroom for a short period, with the possibility of increasing the duration if Trump continues to disregard the gag order.
The source elaborated on the potential courses of action available to Judge Merchan, stating that he could choose to detain Trump for a few hours as an initial step. Subsequently, the judge could escalate the consequences by detaining Trump for the entire day or even during lunchtime. This incremental approach could serve as a progressive disciplinary measure, ultimately leading to the possibility of overnight detention.
It appears that Judge Merchan is exploring a range of options to address Trump's non-compliance with the gag order, with the intention of enforcing consequences that are proportionate to the offense committed. While imprisonment is not the judge's preferred course of action, he may resort to such measures if deemed necessary to uphold the integrity of the court's directives.
