As much as I admire Lawrence, I don't agree we can't incarcerate Trump

[dlk]

There are numerous government facilities where Trump could be held and the Secret Service would be able to provide their necessary protection 24/7. I believe in American ingenuity and it’s more a matter of can’t v. won’t.

Trump needs to be behind bars and when there’s a will, there’s a way.

[niyad]

1. gitmo comes to mind.

[dlk]

7. If only...

[50 Shades Of Blue]

2. If Trump were a Democrat, there would be no question his ass would be incarcerated after conviction.

[dlk]

8. Exactly

[Mr. Evil]

23. They're all falling over themselves

worrying about 'how will it look if we imprison a former president?' The answer is obvious. It will look we have found our long lost integrity and our spine as a nation of laws.

For everything, there is a first time.

[Poiuyt]

34. I agree with you, but I find it hard to believe that any judge would have

the cajones to imprison Trump.

As Michael Cohen said, there are three classes of criminals in America -- There are the common people, there are the rich and famous, and then there's Donald Trump. He's going to get special privileges that no other American would get.

[PatSeg]

40. Often other countries

have used highly restricted house arrest, but obviously a place like Mar-a-Lago wouldn't be satisfactory. A few rooms with no Internet or cell phones. The Secret Service could be used to monitor him.

[ChazII]

50. Totally agree with you. n/t

[Irish_Dem]

3. It is just a simple matter of the SS transferring custody to the Bureau of Prisons.

Everyone is making it much harder than it would be in reality.

[dlk]

9. It's not rocket science

[Mr.Bill]

19. Better yet,

just revoke his SS protection.

[Irish_Dem]

21. No need to revoke. Just let the Bureau of Prisons give Trump

the same level of protection they give all other prisoners.

[thenelm1]

30. Absolutely. If convicted his Secret Service protection should be revoked, along...

any other "privledges" a past president has.

[-misanthroptimist]

4. I agree.

They also wouldn't need a full detail, either. One or two agents should be able to protect him adequately in a prison cell. They obviously wouldn't need armored vehicles or any other extraneous equipment. A couple armed guys should be more than enough to get the job done.

[Mr.Bill]

20. They would be hauling him to

various courtrooms for the rest of his life.

[-misanthroptimist]

51. Then there's no problem.

They were going have to go with him to his continual whine-fests anyway. So, when he's not in court they can assign fewer agents and give the rest the day(s) off or assign them somewhere else. It's not like court dates are a surprise.

[Mr.Bill]

52. I agree. n/t

[Jirel]

5. It would not be a problem.

You transfer custody from the SS. They would still be able to monitor security and approve procedures as the situation changes. Needy Amin would likely be in some level of solitary in a “country club” prison, or at worst incarcerated in Dump Tower under SS custody if they really, REALLY didn’t want to take responsibility for the f*cker at a prison. Regardless of the setting, he can easily be incarcerated.

[lees1975]

6. What's the problem?

Other than the poor secret service agents who have to go to jail with him.

Maybe we should re-activate the prison on Dry Tortugas, at the old Fort Jefferson, where the conspirators in the Lincoln assassination were imprisoned.

And let's get on with the other trials. We've waited too long for justice and the credibility of the justice department and the courts is diminished with every day that goes by.

[dlk]

12. There are plenty of viable options

[ProudMNDemocrat]

10. Make sure he has NO phone, no pool,

He has no pets. He does not smoke. No luxuries like favorite foods, diet Coke, chocolate ice cream.

Make life for a convicted felon hard for him.

No VOTING either if convicted. Oppsie daisy, Donnie. You lose that right.

[dlk]

13. House arrest isn't good enough

[ProudMNDemocrat]

15. NOPE! For he would find a way to get around the restrictions.

It has to be a well secured facility with armed guards, isolated for a length of time. NO Privileges. Other than a few visitors for 15 minutes at a time.

Even when CONVICTED before being sentenced, there are strict rules. Michael Cohen is all to familiar with those.

[speak easy]

36. Merde A Lago was "a well secured facility with armed guards"

while he was president.

[Demobrat]

25. I think it could work.

Confine him to the smallest bedroom on the property with a bath attached. Door comes off the bath. Brick over the windows. Replace bedroom door with iron bars. 24/7 guards and video surveillance of the room. No TV. No internet. No phone. No privacy. Prison food only. Prison garb only. Shower works for ten minutes three times a week. Lights on a timer. Bed is a prison bunk. No other furniture. No heat. No air conditioning. He is taken in cuffs to meet with visitors in another room. Make home confinement as much like actual prison as possible, and it could work for everyone. Even the ones who have to guard/protect him. They could utilize the rest of the property so it wouldn’t have to be the assignment from hell for them.

[William Seger]

53. House arrest isn't good enough, but I'm guessing it's the worst he'll get

[hlthe2b]

11. With re: to short-term, obviously the NY Judge Merchan would agree. He's twice threatened Trump w jail

and I wish he'd subject him to 30 minutes in the Manhattan jail with a warning that it (time) would be increased 4x with each disruption or breach of his gag order. Tell me how SS can't stand outside his cell for 30 minutes along with local jail staff? Bullshist.

[dlk]

14. A taste of what's to come

[usaf-vet]

16. I'm sorry, but if Trump becomes a convicted felon, why should we feel he is entitled to all the benefits now received...

.... as a former president.

Will we help even in a small way to build a presidential library?

Are we going to provide him with lifetime Secret Service protection? A lifetime pension?

The sheer fact that he has taken it upon himself to do things, many unlawful, that 44 presidents before him didn't do, in my mind, calls for a revision of how he is treated in the future.

Here is a summary of the benefits the former 44 presidents received. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Former_Presidents_Act

In my opinion, if and when he becomes a convicted felon, especially in the classified documents case, Trump should, without exception, be treated like any other FELON. He deserves a jail term, but when released, he should be shown the door and not expect ANY further benefits.

I know in the past, there was a fear that former presidents could pass on sensitive information. I doubt he has the mental acuity to retain any information he might have been privy to. He didn't read his daily briefing reports and wanted them condensed to one page.

When the truth of what corrupt things he and his family did to enrich themselves is known, I believe history will see him as a cancerous blot in the office he once held.

Here is at least one author's suggestion of what might happen if a President refuses to leave. We need to start thinking about this possibility. If it is ever going to happen, 2024 is likely when we will sadly see it play itself out.

https://www.rd.com/article/what-happens-if-a-president-wont-leave-office/

[republianmushroom]

17. I believe Lawrence is correct.

Parts of the DOJ didn't even want him investigated. And many still don't.

38 months and counting (includes foot dragging)

[dlk]

55. It's speaks volumes about us when we don't have the stomach to hold him truly accountable

[karynnj]

18. Even if jail was too difficult given SS, what about a strict house arrest with no internet access?

Consider his SS detail could function as jailers.

[JoseBalow]

57. The same Secret Service that wiped their cell phones of evidence after J6?

[2naSalit]

22. I agree.

[Mr. Evil]

24. Just take away his phone,

his burnt to a crisp steak and ketchup supply. Then just build a wall around MAG-A-Lardo. You know how much he loves walls.

[Hugin]

27. I bet the Mexicans would pay for it...

If they could have exclusive rights to post travel ads on the perimeter.

[Mr. Evil]

29. I'm with you there.

I bet they'd gladly pay for it!

[Hugin]

26. As many times as I read this, I see "incinerate".

Shame on me.

[Mr. Evil]

32. You're forgiven!

Of course he's so toxic he'd probably burn in perpetuity not unlike that forever coal fire under Centralia, PA.

[EndlessWire]

28. I think that

J. Merchan can fairly sentence a convicted Trump without any consideration of where he will serve the sentence, be it prison, a country club, house arrest, or other. Obviously, Gitmo is out.

But, once he's decided what is fair, I think the jail system, or the Bureau of Prisons, or whoever decides at the state level, will decide where they can successfully put him. He is a civilian, a citizen, despite his bluster of being the next President. The Secret Service can be whittled down to just one guy--or all of them. It doesn't matter. It just wouldn't be a plush assignment.

Trump can be held in solitary confinement (like he did to Cohen) due to keeping his nasty ass safe. He can be held away from Genpop, and carted back and forth to his other trials.

Why has this become so hard? If he's convicted and J. Merchan sends him to jail for 90 days, or four years, there is a spot for him. He has to be put in a spot where outside protestors can't be allowed daily interaction with him.

It's not J. Merchan's problem. His duty is to dish out the punishment within fair guidelines, not to decide the punishment based on what we can handle. We've got this.

[lpbk2713]

31. Put him in Gitmo for the summer.

And the Aleutian Islands for the winter.

[Tree Lady]

33. I'll keep saying it

military prison. Keep him separate with secret service down the hall in a office.

[Happy Hoosier]

35. If Trump can't be incarcerated, then we do not have Equal Justice Under Law.

It's that simple.

[Escurumbele]

37. Agree 100% with you, trump is not special and should never be treated as such, he must be treated as any

other criminal would be treated if convicted.

[JoseBalow]

38. We have a pool and a pond... Pond would be good for you.

[Mblaze]

39. Where there's a wall there's a way.

[Oopsie Daisy]

41. Couldn't the SS just sign-off and transfer their responsibilities/obligations to the prison guards?

If felons forfeit their voting rights and ill-gotten gains, then they should also forfeit luxuries like SS protection.

[RainCaster]

46. I like your thinking!

[sop]

42. Trump loves comparing himself to Mandela, so let's accommodate him. Give him 27 years hard time.

[ECL213]

43. I'm sure we could whip up some facilities at Alcatraz...

Hell, I'll bet Mexico would even pay for the remodel.

[ShazzieB]

44. When did Lawrence say that?

Just wondering, because I don't recall ever hearing him voice those sentiments.

I agree that there are ways to incarcerate Trump, but I could live with house arrest and an ankle bracelet plus no social media posting, as long as he can never run for office again.

I realize I may be in the minority on this, but those are my sentiments. I'm more concerned about protecting the country from him than inflicting the harshest punishment possible.

Yeah, I know I'm weird!

[dlk]

54. Lawrence said it last evening and Chris Hayes agreed

Lawrence has excellent experience and insight. I just hope he's wrong.

[RainCaster]

45. Once the trial is over, any Pene-Max will do, but I think the one in Colorado is best

Put him in with the drug lords. A few SS guys to watch the cameras from their safe distant location. Who cares when he has a heart attack? Haul him out when he's cold.

[Sogo]

47. I don't know how the details would/should be worked out, but

the last thing we want is to make a martyr out of tsf.

Whatever stops short of that is fine with me. I really don't care, do you?

[Silent3]

48. There's the matter of feasibility, and the matter of the will to do it

It's the will to do it that is most lacking.

While many here on DU (and rightfully so) fiercely want to see Trump behind bars, we're up against a system that's accustomed to coddling the rich, powerful, and well-connected, and terrified of being involved in harsh actions against Trump.

[RANDYWILDMAN]

49. Nixon is the problem

we pardoned him and moved on and that didn't work out so great

[dlk]

56. As a country, we continue to pay dearly for that bad decision

Accountability matters.