In a recent development, Glenn Kirschner, a former federal prosecutor, has called for the imprisonment of ex-President Donald Trump in the New York criminal trial scheduled for September.
This trial is one of four indictments against Trump, who was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.
According to The Blaze, Kirschner's call for Trump's imprisonment came in response to the former President's legal team's plea to postpone the sentencing until after the November presidential election. Kirschner dismissed this request as "another pathetic and desperate attempt by Donald Trump to keep from being sentenced."
While the New York trial is often referred to as the "hush money case," Kirschner asserts that it is, in fact, a case of election interference. Trump's legal team, however, argues that proceeding with the September sentencing would amount to election interference. They wrote to acting Judge Juan Merchan, "The Court should adjourn any sentencing in this case, though one should not be necessary because dismissal and vacatur of the jury's verdicts are required based on Presidential immunity, until after the 2024 Presidential election."
Trump's lawyers have previously attempted to overturn the jury's guilty verdict and dismiss the case, citing the United States Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity. They have also thrice tried to have Merchan recuse himself from the case, alleging a conflict of interest due to his daughter's employment with a progressive political consulting firm.
Kirschner, who also serves as a legal analyst for NBC News and MSNBC, criticized Trump's lawyers for their attempts to dismiss the case over an alleged appearance of impropriety. He stated, "You know friends, this is where sanctioning bad faith lawyers would come in really handy."
He further predicted that Merchan would likely reject Trump's request to vacate sentencing based on presidential immunity and proceed with the scheduled sentencing. Kirschner noted that if this happens, Trump's legal team would likely immediately appeal to postpone sentencing until after the election.
Kirschner expressed his hope that the sentencing would proceed as planned, stating, "I hope that Judge Merchan not only denies the motion to dismiss but proceeds to sentencing on September 18th, sentences him to prison, which he so richly deserves."
He argued that punishing Trump would deter future potential dictators, stating, "Because if you want to deter tomorrow's aspiring dictator, you've got to punish today's aspiring dictator for the crimes he committed to try to steal the presidency." He added, "You know, probation is dead wrong in this case. Prison time is what's required."
Kirschner concluded by expressing his concern about Trump potentially regaining presidential power, stating, "As long as he's not elected President, he will not have the opportunity to kill his cases. He won't have that opportunity to get rid of them. But he will, if God forbid he ever retakes the reins of presidential power."
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