To the editor: Both former President Trump and New York Judge Juan Merchán are in an extremely difficult situation. (“Trump was just fined for contempt of court. Could he go to jail next time?” Opinion, April 30)
Trump's entire brand is based on not showing weakness. He cannot afford to follow any of the judge's orders.
Merchán, for his part, has the affirmative duty to maintain order and protect the process of justice. The only tools he has to enforce his authority are fines and jail time. Given Trump's wealth, imposing fines of a few thousand dollars is worse than useless. Deterrence doesn't matter; I think it actually encourages it.
In other words, the judge has only two options: do nothing or jail Trump. I can see that he doesn't want to do this lightly because of the legal and media storm that would follow. But if he can't control his courtroom, maybe he should withdraw from this case.
These two are on a collision course whether they like it or not.
Peter Scofield, Crown of the Sea
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To the editor: The juxtaposition of Trump's trial for maintaining silence in New York and the university protests highlights a blatant double standard.
On the one hand, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and other Republicans in Congress have called for the National Guard to be deployed in response to the student protests. Similarly, Trump called the sight of riot police clearing protesters from Columbia University in New York “a beautiful thing.”
Elsewhere, Trump is lashing out at the New York court's order to halt his efforts to intimidate witnesses, complaining that he is being denied his First Amendment right to free speech. Additionally, Republicans have complained that conservatives are not allowed to speak on college campuses.
What hypocrisy!
Bonnie Cohen, Cardiff, California.
