CHRIS CRUCIAL: Does Donald Trump *want* to go to jail? 👮

PLUS: I told you MTG would blink!!!!

Welcome to Chris Crucial. This nightly newsletter — in which I summarize all the political news you need to know from the day that was — is for paid subscribers only. Not one yet? Check out my Mission Statement on why you should invest in me. It’s $6 a month/$60 for the year! 👇

1. Don the Con?

An astute “So What” subscriber named Mark Scott sent me an email this weekend. His question, essentially, was whether Donald Trump actually wants to be put in jail for violating the gag orders he has repeatedly been placed under during his ongoing hush money trial.

It’s a really good thought.

And I think there’s increasing evidence that Trump would, in fact, like to goad Judge Juan Merchan into putting him behind bars — if only for a few hours or a day.

Here’s Trump when he left the Manhattan courtroom on Monday:

I have to watch every word I tell you people. You ask me a question, a simple question I'd like to give it, but I can't talk about it because this judge has given me a gag order and [says] you'll go to jail if you violate it. 

And frankly, you know what? Our Constitution is much more important than jail. It's not even close. I'll do that sacrifice any day.

Trump’s comments came after Merchan had talked, in some depth, in court on Monday about his reluctance to jail the former president.

Speaking about Trump’s repeated flouting of the gag order to not attack witnesses or lawyers in the case, Merchan said: “It appears that the $1,000 fines are not serving as a deterrent; therefore, going forward, this Court will have to consider a jail sanction if recommended.”

Merchan added that jailing Trump was the “last thing” he wanted to do — because of Trump’s status as the former and maybe future president of the United States. But, the judge added:

Your continued violations of this court’s lawful order threaten to interfere with the administration of justice in constant attacks which constitute a direct attack on the rule of law. I cannot allow that to continue. So, as much as I do not want to impose a jail sanction, and I have done everything I can to avoid doing so, I want you to understand that I will, if necessary and appropriate.

Now, consider this all from Trump’s end of things. He has declared this trial — and the other three indictments he faces — as “election interference.” He has insisted, without evidence, that President Joe Biden is secretly running all of these efforts — with the simple goal of derailing Trump’s chances of beating him.

And remember two other things. First, Trump’s poll numbers shot up after he was indicted in this case roughly a year ago.

Second, Trump’s mug shot from his indictment in Fulton County (Georgia) became a sort of rallying cry for his supporters.