TOP OF MIND: Should U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland be sent to prison along with Peter Navarro and Steve Bannon after also being found in contempt of Congress for not cooperating with a congressional investigation?

Top of Mind is a weekly question about an issue affecting New Mexicans.

LAST WEEK’S QUESTION:

Do you think former President Donald Trump should be sent to prison for his 34 felony convictions in Manhattan?

“Imprisoning a presidential candidate on exaggerated charges is akin to a repressive regime that purports to have free elections but jails its opponents.”

— Steve Epstein, Albuquerque

“Of course he should be imprisoned for his felony convictions. He should have immediately been imprisoned for the insurrection.”

— Nancy Benton, Albuquerque

“No. Instead, District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Judge Juan Merchan should be disbarred for the prosecution and rulings in the trial. Kangaroo Court doesn’t come close to describing what transpired before, during and after the trial.”

— David Woodward, Albuquerque

“Imprisonment for a convicted presidential candidate should not even be a topic of debate. Of course, Trump should be incarcerated. He should also be stripped of his presidential nomination. Trump is both a disgrace and a threat to the acceptance of law.”

— Brian Hill, Albuquerque

“If all aspects of the trial had been impartial and appropriate, yes. But his charges were derived from a meticulously fashioned novel application of a NY statute that was overseen by a compromised judge — who donated to ‘Stop Trump.’ A restitution fine, community service, or house arrest would be more apropos.”

— Ray Blanco, Rio Rancho

“How about house arrest, the house being a one-bedroom apartment with TV, no phone privileges beyond what any other prisoner might have, and prison diet — along with Secret Service jailers.”

— Raymond Wood, Albuquerque

“Yes, Trump should be sent to prison for his 34 felony convictions. He has no remorse and doesn’t accept responsibility for his illegal behavior. Nothing will stop Trump from running for POTUS. If he loses, he will likely go to prison based on the other, more serious charges.”

— Mark Yarnelle, Albuquerque

“When Hillary goes to prison for starting the ‘Russia hoax’ to sway an election and Bill goes to prison for paying off/trashing women accusing him of sexual abuse to sway an election, and Biden’s administration goes to jail for suppressing Hunter’s laptop to sway an election, then talk about Trump.”

— Mary Lombardo, Albuquerque

“The cost of Secret Service in a prison would be too high. I think he should be on house arrest in NYC. Not allowed to leave the city and definitely not allowed to go golfing.”

— Mary Hyatt, Rio Rancho

“Yes. He broke the law, and should serve time just as others without his public profile are doing. He broke his gag order 10 times, anyone else would have been in jail already. Also he threatened the judge’s family among others, and has insinuated for violence from his supporters.”

— Bevan Manson, Albuquerque

“If you listen to all the legal prognosticators, Trump, as a first offender, will not be jailed. Most say he should not have been tried with such bogus charges. Word is probably out to the judge that jail time would hurt the Dems. Many already consider Trump a martyr. TBD.”

— Dave Coulie, Albuquerque

“Ankle monitor tied to Trump Towers ‘30,000-square-foot’ apartment is kinder to the Secret Service detail and more in line with first conviction on white collar felonies. The judge has been more fair to him than he deserves. A longer sentence is warranted but unlikely.”

— Jeanne Collin-Smith, Albuquerque

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION

So, if no one is truly above the law, should U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland be sent to jail like Peter Navarro and Steve Bannon after also being found in contempt of Congress for not cooperating with a congressional investigation?

Submit your response to: abqjournal.com/opinion/ — go to Other Forms, then Top of Mind.

Or go to: https://www.abqjournal.com/site/forms/online_services/top_of_mind/

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