# Appropriate punishment for Trump? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [August 31, 2022, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-trump/970673 "2022-08-31T20:49:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-trump/970673/41 "2022-09-01T00:51:29Z")
I’ll be perfectly happy with a lawfully obtained sentence imposed based on the statutory guidelines for however many counts of Obstruction with which Trump is charged. E.g., if charged with 5 counts, served consecutively, that’s 100 years. Oh, heck, let’s be generous and let him serve those counts concurrently: 20 years. He will not be under “house arrest.” That’s for when a case is pending, prior to conviction and sentencing. After sentencing, he’ll be housed in a SHU, which stands for Special Housing Unit. Every major prison has one. They consist of very secure separate cells in an administrative segregated (Ad Seg) area of the prison. No internet access. Limited visitors. No contact with other inmates. Pity the Secret Service agents assigned to that detail. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-trump/970673/42 "2022-09-01T01:11:23Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > He will not be under “house arrest.” That’s for when a case is pending, prior to conviction and sentencing. House arrest or home confinement is an available sentence within the federal criminal justice system, not just for pretrial. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-trump/970673/43 "2022-09-01T01:12:33Z")
I wouldn’t have quibbled with the term, ‘home confinement.’ The term ‘arrest’ is obviously specific to pre-sentencing, however. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-trump/970673/44 "2022-09-01T01:48:10Z")
> [@BeepKillBeep](#): > > True, but I am 100% opposed to the death penalty. I don’t want to turn this into a death penalty thread though so I’ll just leave it at that. 🙂 > > Trump is scum and if I were not opposed to the DP, then I can see someone making the argument if he was selling secrets. I don’t think the death penalty is possible for him. It’s considered cruel and unusual to execute the mentally ill. ---
**Author:** ![Roger\_That](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roger_that/32/8505_2.png) [@Roger\_That](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roger_That)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-trump/970673/45 "2022-09-01T01:55:44Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > The term ‘arrest’ is obviously specific to pre-sentencing, however. Sorry for my imprecision. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-trump/970673/46 "2022-09-01T02:02:00Z")
Sorry for my pedantry. Truly. ---
**Author:** ![Dahnlor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahnlor/32/533_2.png) [@Dahnlor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahnlor)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-trump/970673/47 "2022-09-01T02:03:17Z")
I was about to post this to the other thread and trying to come up with something that didn’t conintue the hijack, so thank you for creating this one. (posted before reading this whole thread) > [@If Trump is Charged and Arrested, and He Calls for Insurrection, What Do You Think Will Happen?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-trump-is-charged-and-arrested-and-he-calls-for-insurrection-what-do-you-think-will-happen/970577/133): > > How about house arrest at NAR-A-Lago? This is what I’ve been imagining. Trump is convicted and sent to prison, but his sentence is carried out at a freshly converted Mar-a-Lago–the newest and greatest Club Fed ever of all time, privately owned and operated by The Trump Organization. I’d imagine he would be allowed to travel more than your typical white collar criminal, but it would at least be cool if he had to wear an ankle bracelet or something. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-trump/970673/48 "2022-09-01T02:05:53Z")
> [@Roger\_That](#): > > Personally, I think he will be punished by some form of house arrest and ineligibility to serve in federal office… I am not sure that would ban him from running for president. The constitution spells out the requirements to run for president and I doubt the supreme court would let a criminal court ban someone from the office. ---
**Author:** ![Roger\_That](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roger_that/32/8505_2.png) [@Roger\_That](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roger_That)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-trump/970673/49 "2022-09-01T02:08:00Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > The constitution spells out the requirements to run for president and I doubt the supreme court would let a criminal court ban someone from the office. Well, if he were to plead guilty to conspiring to an insurrection of the government, that’s in the constitution, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-trump/970673/50 "2022-09-01T02:21:53Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > Go after what he cares about-- MONEY! No jail time, but a $20 billion fine. That will expose how little of the real money he really has, how his properties are not worth nearly as much. Ridiculously large fines would be overturned, and reasonable fines would be paid by his Trumpettes. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-trump/970673/51 "2022-09-01T02:25:39Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > I’d love to see a felony conviction trigger the financial collapse of his paper empire. Properties sold off, foundations and shell corps liquidated, his name stripped off buildings worldwide. In the US, his name should become synonymous with treason and fraud, and his enablers shunned from public life. I agree. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-trump/970673/52 "2022-09-01T02:30:15Z")
> [@Roger\_That](#): > > Don’t think you can deport an American citizen Then **ex** port him, to our (Canada’s) arctic to assist in some sort of development work. But seriously, house arrest in Mar a Lago is probably the most realistic and reasonable option, though it would be great if he was restricted to some small section of building and grounds, with the rest of the compound occupied by staff ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-trump/970673/53 "2022-09-01T02:33:16Z")
Seems to me that “exporting him to Canada” would still be seen as deportation. However, northern Alaska, USA would be just fine. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-trump/970673/54 "2022-09-01T02:37:09Z")
Technically though, isn’t deportation something that sends someone to their original country (eg an immigrant from Russia to the US or Canada can only be deported **back** to Russia)? ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-trump/970673/55 "2022-09-01T03:42:24Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I am not sure that would ban him from running for president. The constitution spells out the requirements to run for president and I doubt the supreme court would let a criminal court ban someone from the office. I agree that a criminal court could not declare him “ineligible” to serve in federal office. However, there have been politicians in the past who have been convicted of crimes and – as a part of their plea bargain – agreed not to run for office again. I believe the way it works is some component of their sentence is suspended contingent on them sticking to the agreement. If they do run for office, the full sentence would then be applied. So not barred from office but may end up having to run their campaign from a federal prison. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-trump/970673/56 "2022-09-01T04:06:21Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > I agree that a criminal court could not declare him “ineligible” to serve in federal office. One of the criminal statutes mentioned in the affidavit has, as part of its punishment upon conviction, the inability to run for office. So, yes, a conviction on this charge… if made… would have that as part of the penalties. ---
**Author:** ![Mortimus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Mortimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mortimus)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-trump/970673/57 "2022-09-01T04:42:21Z")
A lifetime supply of “Freedom Fries” and no ketchup. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-trump/970673/58 "2022-09-01T04:42:56Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > One of the criminal statutes mentioned in the affidavit has, as part of its punishment upon conviction, the inability to run for office. > > So, yes, a conviction on this charge… if made… would have that as part of the penalties. You’re right, the statute for improper removal of federal documents includes a provision that someone convicted under the law must forfeit office “and be disqualified from holding any office under the United States.” So his conviction could well include that provision, I stand corrected. However, I think it’s very likely that it would be unconstitutional for that provision to bar Trump from the Presidency. As @Whack-a-Mole states, the Constitution defines the requirements for being President or a Member of Congress, and they cannot be changed or added to through statute. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-trump/970673/59 "2022-09-01T04:59:34Z")
The Constitution is not a suicide pact, and any arguments that a person convicted of these statutes, including espionage, can still be elected President, while fun in theory and on message boards, won’t go further than that. You might as well do a Constitutional Convention at that point because, frankly, if that does happen, this country isn’t worth saving in any form. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-trump/970673/60 "2022-09-01T05:02:13Z")
A 730 exam for mental stability might place some light on where he should go. Done by a real doctor for once. “Brain tumor affecting judgment since 1984… brain scans of former doctor reveal same results… no history of bone spurs present…” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-trump/970673.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-trump/970673.md?page=4)