MSNBC legal analyst Kristy Greenberg is arguing that former President Donald Trump’s conduct clearly warrants jail-time in his New York City criminal case after a jury’s recent conviction on all counts. He was facing felony accusations of falsifying business records in connection to hush money from before the 2016 presidential election for a woman named Stormy Daniels.
Among the factors that Greenberg cited in her analysis is that, in his separate federal case, former Trump ally Michael Cohen already went to prison partly in connection to this very same series of events. Cohen provided Daniels with the money, and he was prosecuted on campaign finance law violations on the idea that keeping Daniels’ story of a sexual encounter with Trump under wraps constituted a covert boost to Trump’s campaign for president.
“But you know who else was a first-time offender? Michael Cohen, who went to jail for the same conduct. The need to prevent an unfair disparity between their sentences justifies jail for Trump, who was more culpable than Cohen as the leader and beneficiary of the crime,” Greenberg posted online.
Among other points, Greenberg also expressed general concerns about effectively upholding the rule of law.
“Trump will argue that his status as the potential future POTUS demands leniency for the good of our country,” Greenberg said. “Jail for Trump would be polarizing, but it would be far worse for this country for the American Presidency to be a get out of jail free card for a convicted felon who refuses to accept responsibility for his crimes.”
Trump was set for a meeting with a probation officer on Monday with an eye towards those authorities providing their own recommendation for the ex-president’s sentencing, which is set for next month. It’ll happen just before the Republican Party proceedings where the GOP is set to formally nominate Trump for president for the 2024 election.
