In light of the ongoing trial against former President Donald Trump in Manhattan, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has stated that Rikers Island, the largest prison in the city, is prepared to house Trump if he is sentenced to serve time in jail. This statement came in response to inquiries about Rikers’ readiness to accommodate Trump in the event of a jail sentence for violating a gag order imposed by Judge Juan Merchan during the trial.
The trial stems from allegations that Trump’s former attorney, Michael Cohen, paid Daniels $130,000 to silence her claims of an extramarital affair with Trump in 2006. Trump has vehemently denied the affair and pleaded not guilty to the charges of falsifying business records related to the payment.
Judge Merchan has warned Trump that he could face jail time if he continues to violate the gag order, which prohibits him from making public statements about witnesses and court proceedings. Prosecutors have alleged that Trump has violated the order on multiple occasions through posts on his Truth Social platform and on his campaign’s website.
Trump has criticized the gag order as unconstitutional and has expressed his willingness to serve jail time in defense of the Constitution. He has also stated that he is not afraid of going to prison and that he would make such a sacrifice to protect the Constitution and freedom of speech.
In the event that Trump is sentenced to jail, the Secret Service is reportedly holding internal discussions on how to handle his potential transfer to prison. Rikers Island, located in the Bronx on the East River, currently houses approximately 6,000 inmates, according to data released by the city last year.
The outcome of the trial and the possibility of Trump serving jail time remain uncertain. However, the statements from Mayor Adams and the reported discussions within the Secret Service indicate that preparations are being made to handle such a scenario if it arises.
