Trump Stays Quiet After Stormy Daniels Testifies

Time: “Trump, who denies the affair, has a history of going ballistic over far less personal attacks. But in the hours that followed, he held his tongue. While Trump has repeatedly violated a gag order that prohibits him from attacking witnesses or jurors, the stakes are higher this time. On Monday, Judge Juan Merchan warned Trump that another infraction could land him in a prison cell…”

“Some in Trump’s orbit are rooting for chaos, encouraging him to engineer a standoff with the American judicial system. They argue that the image of a former President sitting in a prison cell for speaking his mind would turn public opinion against the proceedings. Trump ‘should fight it even if it means jail,’ says Steve Bannon, Trump’s former chief strategist.”

“Even those closest to Trump don’t know what he will do next. ‘The lawyers are quite adamant that they would prefer him not making any comments that would even sniff the line of the gag order restrictions,’ says a source close to Trump. But his attorneys recognize the futility of trying to keep him quiet. ‘They understand he has a campaign to run. They realize this is a unique situation.'”