After hearing about a possible indictment from the Manhattan District Attorney coming this week, former President Donald Trump fired off a missive to supporters asking for them to “protest” his impending arrest. Now, says one former prosecutor, he could be denied the chance at bail because of it.
Glenn Kirschner, a legal analyst for MSNBC and a former US Army prosecutor, opined that New York state prosecutors may use the president’s own words in seeking to deny him bail. “I would slap a government exhibits sticker on this post and I would introduce it as his criminal trial,” said Kirschner.
“The moment Donald Trump knows he’s been indicted, his first post will be ‘come to Manhattan or come to Georgia for my arraignment. Will be wild.’ He knows precisely what he’s doing. He used similar language to entice his supporters to come to DC on January 6, and he proceeded to incite imminent lawless action, and he has done it all over again.”
“He has now just given the judge that will preside over his arraignment hearing food for thought about what kind of conditions should be set for the release of this dangerous man pending trial,” he added.
WATCH:
Trump could be denied bail because of his dog whistle to “protest” and “take our country back”. Glenn Kirschner explains, during this appearance on Katie Phang’s MSNBC show: pic.twitter.com/dJUsuc4GnS
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) March 18, 2023
In an email to staff, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg said his office will not be “intimidated” by the inflammatory post and will “not tolerate attempts to… threaten the rule of law in New York.”
Speculation has swirled around whether or not Bragg will seek to have Trump processed and arraigned in person or fight a possible attempt by the president’s legal team to have all casework done remotely. Currently New York state courts require at least some processing work to be done in person.
The specter of seeing Trump in handcuffs has galvanized his supporters to demand Florida Governor Ron DeSantis intervene in an arrest attempt at Mar-A-Lago. DeSantis, who has remained mum so far, is facing calls from political commentators Mike Cernovich, Stew Peters, and others to fight an extradition of Trump to New York. Online, MAGA supporters have proposed a “Patriot Moat” around the Florida governor’s mansion where Trump could theoretically be protected from arrest by a “Soros DA.”