As former President Donald Trump faces a historic criminal trial in Manhattan, the U.S. Secret Service is grappling with the unprecedented scenario of potentially having to protect him in prison.
The trial, which began last week, involves Trump being charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a sex scandal. It marks the first time a former U.S. president has faced criminal prosecution.
The New York Times reported that, behind the scenes, officials from the Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies had held preliminary discussions about the logistics of protecting Trump if he were to be incarcerated. These talks were sparked by prosecutors' request to consider the possibility of jailing Trump for contempt during the trial, even before a verdict is reached.
The Times noted that the Secret Service faces a "logistical nightmare of safely incarcerating" Trump.
"Obviously, it’s uncharted territory," said Martin F. Horn, a former high-ranking official in New York’s state prison system. "Certainly no state prison system has had to deal with this before, and no federal prison has had to either."
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If Trump were to be imprisoned, the Secret Service would face the challenge of ensuring his safety 24/7. Measures would likely include keeping him separate from other inmates and constant monitoring. Agents would be armed, despite the general prohibition of firearms in prison facilities.
The discussions so far have focused on short-term scenarios, such as holding Trump in a courthouse cell if he were found in contempt of court. However, the more complex issue of long-term incarceration has yet to be fully addressed, given the likelihood of prolonged appeals if Trump is convicted.
During a hearing Tuesday to determine whether Trump violated Justice Juan Merchan's gag order, prosecutors said they were not seeking incarceration as a sanction.
