Staff Reports
Harvard Law School professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz has waded into the legal swamp surrounding former President Donald Trump, predicting that Judge Juan Merchan is poised to deliver a prison sentence on September 18. One might call it mission impossible, especially considering the circus that is the New York judicial system. Dershowitz is not alone; fellow legal eagle Andrew McCarthy seems to think the same. However, both academics have pointedly noted that whether Trump actually sees the inside of a prison cell is up for debate.
Originally, Trump’s sentencing for his supposed “34 business records violations” was set for July 11, but the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on presidential immunity threw a spanner in the works. Judge Merchan decided to delay the proceedings until September 18, likely to give both sides ample room to maneuver. After all, nothing says “justice” like extending a legal drama for maximum political theater. Meanwhile, the judge rebuffed Trump’s legal team’s request for his recusal due to a potential conflict of interest involving his daughter’s ties to Vice President Kamala Harris. It’s convenient when the family tree shakes out in your favor.
Dershowitz Predicts Merchan Will Sentence Trump to Prison on Sept 18, But Throw in a Twist via @WestJournalism https://t.co/ZGeFG0O9Ms
— WhiteNoise🇺🇸HalB🇺🇸 (@ObsoleteAndSane) August 16, 2024
Dershowitz took to the Fox News airwaves to express his dismay over what he sees as a double standard in the justice system. He lamented that all “faces” should be treated equally in the halls of justice, a sentiment echoed throughout conservative circles. Should a judge really be throwing the book at Trump for what amounts to a “novel crime”? By that standard, it would seem that the Bidens are overdue for a long vacation behind bars, but alas, it’s crickets when it comes to them.
The legal scholar doesn’t want to see either Trump or the Bidens punished, which only adds to the absurdity of the situation. His prediction? Merchan will nominally sentence Trump to prison but then opt for a suspended sentence, leaving the Democrats to boast about their “tough” stance while making sure they don’t martyr him. It’s a classic case of having your cake and eating it, too—where political calculations overshadow actual justice.
McCarthy also weighed in, stating that the signs point to a denial of Trump’s motion for immunity. He remarked that Merchan’s recent rulings have been nothing short of outrageous and not exactly in the spirit of justice. Yet, the trial seems more about ensuring that Trump’s political career gets the old political squeeze than anything resembling actual legal fairness. If no one is expecting Merchan to change his stripes now, one must wonder what it takes to lose the robes.
Ultimately, the court is shaping up to be the Democrats’ favorite stage for showcasing their grievances. The potential for Trump to get bail pending appeal seems almost guaranteed, allowing Merchan to wield the power of a prison sentence without actually sending him away. This plot twist serves to illustrate just how intertwined politics and justice have become. If Trump is destined for the gallows of political martyrdom rather than a genuine prison cell, it proves once more that in the land of the free, justice often wears a partisan blindfold.
