There are many theories about what imprisoning Trump before sentencing and/or what prison time would look like. One question I often run across in this regard is: “What would happen to Trump’s Secret Service detail?”
Some have asked this tongue-in-cheek, while others seem to be serious.
To the latter, I ask this—do they think a criminally indicted ex-POTUS charged with crimes related to election interference and potential espionage would even have rights to an SS detail after the smoke clears?
I’ll let them marinate on that one.
Short answer is, no. Those who say that no president has been without Secret Service protection after leaving office or that this right is guaranteed have not been paying attention.
None of this has been done before. Not indicting an ex-president or hauling a political candidate into court to answer for various crimes. That isn’t stopping anyone from pursuing matters of justice. Should Trump be convicted and sentenced—and it looks like his goose is cooked—he will likely not enjoy the privileges that ex-presidents have for centuries.
Why would he? Why should he?
So, I place that question as a nonsequitur to the conversation. In other words, he would likely not have an SS detail in prison.
The question is, at best, a distraction.
Judge Engoron is poised to make history
As Judge Engoron, who is presiding over Letitia James’ fraud case in New York, considers tossing Trump in jail over his latest attack on his law clerk (and it looks like it could be tiny handcuffs from Drumpy), another interesting scenario has emerged.
Jason Kander of Burn the Boats (MTN) made an interesting observation regarding even a 30-day stint in the slammer. Devoid of his campaign management staff and the folks who attempt to make him seem less lizard-like and more human, Trump will soon look like any other older dude.
When Trump finally emerges from the clink, he won’t have all the strong man finery they use to make him appear, at least to MAGA, larger than life. No suits, no hair dye, no stylists, no spray tan. It may not turn all of his supporters off, but some may finally have the scales removed from their eyes.
He is simply a man.
That is likely Trump’s biggest fear—so one wonders why he keeps flicking the beard of the giant who could slay him.
False Bravado and a heaping helping of hubris
He can’t help himself. Trump has spent years cultivating a strong man image. He has painted himself as an evil man despot, not unlike Hitler, Mussolini, or Khadaffi, and believes he joins their ranks.
There is simply one thing he lacks, however, that they had.
The strength of their dastardly convictions.
Most of the nasty characters in History’s footnotes actually had a cause. An evil one, but a cause nonetheless. They believed the bullshit they spewed. If they were going to die or go to jail for that belief, so be it. That would be the price paid for their commitment to their ideals.
Most would try their best to avoid traps and exert ill-gotten, often bloody influence, yet they would become willing martyrs if push came to shove.
Trump, on the other hand, is a sniveling coward who believes in nothing. When faced with jail time, he will run like a scalded dog or cave and confess to everything for a lighter sentence.
At worst, he’ll run off to see Vlad, thinking the man will save him.
He doesn’t understand Putin very well, if at all.
Should Trump run to the former Soviet Union, look for this man to disappear into the ether like Amelia Earhart. If he does remain alive, it will be at Russia’s pleasure as a useful tool.
In either case, Trump’s name and legacy will go down in flames, and he will have only his nastiness, lack of empathy, and phenomenal hubris to blame.
In any case, we now have a countdown to potential jail time for TFG. My conservative hubby thinks Trump will never see a day inside a jail, let alone prison.
All bets are on, and the countdown begins!
I fear your husband may be right. There is probably no one in the world at this moment who more richly deserves to be imprisoned. I believe in Karma so I have no doubt he will have to atone in some way someday but I cannot escape the nagging feeling that he will slither away from this existential threat. House arrest in his gilded temple of excess maybe, ankle bracelet perhaps, with some strictures that he will regularly violate with virtually no consequence. Money talks and bullshit walks. He doesn’t have so much of the former now even after decades of stiffing and grifting and he has an over abundance of the latter, but this “person” has never really felt any consequences for his heinous actions. I don’t see that changing any time soon.
However, if I’m wrong, and his chickens finally come home to roost, I’ll be the happiest damn fool alive. I just don’t want to get my hopes up.
Sorry that went on so long.
You are very funny. I liked the tiny handcuffs the best. I should always wear pee-proof undies when I read your posts.....well, I AM 67..... Off the point again. You seem to have the guy down pat. Really, he has just gotta go to jail And prison. Most guilty defendant prison. Not a fed prison....I want him in a Southern state prison. Atlanta is my dream. Okay, lemme wipe up. I’ll look forward to your offerings. Love it!