Trump team hatching 'jailbreak' strategy to keep judge from locking him up: report

Donald Trump's team is scrambling to keep him out of jail if the former president keeps running his mouth about his criminal trial.

New York Judge Juan Merchan found the ex-president in contempt of court Tuesday and fined him $9,000 for repeatedly violating a gag order, and Trump's allies and advisers are hatching a plan to keep him out of jail if the judge eventually determines it's necessary to keep him in line, reported Rolling Stone.

Two sources familiar with the matter told the magazine that several Trump advisers and attorneys have discussed the plan – which they call the "jailbreak" strategy – with the former president, saying they would file an emergency writ of habeas corpus they feel certain would win an emergency stay of a contempt order.

The sources said the advisers told Trump they believe the stay would be granted before authorities were able to sort out the logistical hurdles of putting an ex-president into a jail cell when he's guarded by an armed Secret Service detail.

READ MORE: Read this powerful GOP senator’s pay-to-play 'benefits package' for lobbyists

Trump has reportedly been spooked by the idea of being made to wear an orange jumpsuit like other inmates, but at least one lawyer close to him has assured the former president he would not be required to wear one during the criminal trial, even if remanded to jail.

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Lead attorney Todd Blanche declined to comment on the jailbreak strategy, but legal spokeswoman Alina Habba described the gag order imposed by the judge was a political tool, and Trump's campaign has been raising money by telling supporters the presumptive Republican nominee was being "silenced."

“The allegations and gag order against President Trump are baseless election interference," Habba said, "and we are confident that the truth will prevail.”

ump's team is scrambling to keep him out of jail if the former president keeps running his mouth about his criminal trial.

New York Judge Juan Merchan found the ex-president in contempt of court Tuesday and fined him $9,000 for repeatedly violating a gag order, and Trump's allies and advisers are hatching a plan to keep him out of jail if the judge eventually determines it's necessary to keep him in line, reported Rolling Stone.

Two sources familiar with the matter told the magazine that several Trump advisers and attorneys have discussed the plan – which they call the "jailbreak" strategy – with the former president, saying they would file an emergency writ of habeas corpus they feel certain would win an emergency stay of a contempt order.

The sources said the advisers told Trump they believe the stay would be granted before authorities were able to sort out the logistical hurdles of putting an ex-president into a jail cell when he's guarded by an armed Secret Service detail.

READ MORE: Read this powerful GOP senator’s pay-to-play 'benefits package' for lobbyists

Trump has reportedly been spooked by the idea of being made to wear an orange jumpsuit like other inmates, but at least one lawyer close to him has assured the former president he would not be required to wear one during the criminal trial, even if remanded to jail.

ADVERTISEMENT

Lead attorney Todd Blanche declined to comment on the jailbreak strategy, but legal spokeswoman Alina Habba described the gag order imposed by the judge was a political tool, and Trump's campaign has been raising money by telling supporters the presumptive Republican nominee was being "silenced."

“The allegations and gag order against President Trump are baseless election interference," Habba said, "and we are confident that the truth will prevail.”