SkyBlueFlux
Well-Known Member
You are correct that the prosecution were worried about the disruptive logistics of the sentencing being in close proximity to a hearing on how the immunity ruling impacts the case. They assumed (with good reason) that whatever Merchan said would be immediately appealed and therefore didn't want a situation where they would close down the courthouse to make the arrangements for sentencing only for it to be kicked into the long grass at short notice - as that would cost the court significant time, money and capacity for processing other cases.
I know that I'm perhaps being naive, but I do like to believe that if Merchan did actually come through with a custodial sentence, even a short one, Trump physically being put in a cell might cause just a few more moderate voters to suddenly realise "oh this guy actually is a criminal". Let's face it, the average voter knows nothing about all these legal proceedings, they just know that Trump is walking around like a free man so they probably believe that whatever he's done can't be that bad. I mean, how many real criminals are just allowed to walk about freely? To your average Joe on the streets, he doesn't currently "present" like a criminal. They need to make it very clear and visible that he is one before the slower folks at the back to start getting it.
While this decision in isolation has its logic, the constant allowances, delays, questionable judgments from friendly judges he appointed, is what has allowed this man to be charged with over a hundred crimes in four different states and yet still be going about his business as if nothing had occurred. He's running businesses and having talks with foreign governments. We're talking about allegations and indictments of crimes related to national security - how somebody would even be granted bail for a crime of that magnitude is crazy to me.
