The former president’s allies have portrayed the indictment as an act of war and called for retribution, which political violence experts say increases the risk of action.
This is dangerous, but it’s tolerated, even encouraged, here. Contrast with Scotland, and the recent arrest of Nicola Sturgeon, Former First Minister, Scotland:
Her (Nicola Sturgeon) arrest also means the case is now active for the purposes of the Contempt of Court Act 1981.
It means everyone has to be careful about what they say to avoid potentially prejudicing any future trial.
This applies to politicians and members of the public on social media as well as broadcasters and newspapers and the rules around what can and cannot be said about this - or any other - case are interpreted much more strictly in Scotland than in some other parts of the world.
Scotland is not the United States, for example, where pundits merrily speculate about the guilt or innocence of a suspect long before the case goes anywhere near a jury.
Convictions for contempt of court can be punishable by up to two years in prison and/or an unlimited fine.
If the US would pivot and provide safeguards such as this, freedom of speech is still protected, but the wild, inflammatory remarks like Lake, Trump and others make would be squashed.
This is dangerous, but it’s tolerated, even encouraged, here. Contrast with Scotland, and the recent arrest of Nicola Sturgeon, Former First Minister, Scotland:
If the US would pivot and provide safeguards such as this, freedom of speech is still protected, but the wild, inflammatory remarks like Lake, Trump and others make would be squashed.