Our columnist Robert Reich considers Donald Trump’s characteristic disregard for the instructions of a judge, in the aftermath of his arraignment on charges related to his attempted election subversion, and whether federal authorities will take the logical next step…

At Donald Trump’s arraignment for trying to overturn the result of the 2020 election, magistrate judge Moxila A Upadhyaya warned him he could be taken into custody if he violated the conditions of his release, including attempting to influence jurors or intimidate future witnesses.

The judge said: “You have heard your conditions of release. It is important you comply. You may be held pending trial in this case if you violate the conditions of release.”

She asked: “Do you understand these warnings and consequence, sir? Are you prepared to comply?”

Trump responded: “Yes.”

But not 24 hours later, Trump posted on social media a message that could be understood as an attempt to influence potential jurors or retaliate against any witness prepared to testify against him. He wrote: “IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU!”

On Friday evening, prosecutors from the office of special counsel Jack Smith asked the court for a protective order to stop Trump from making public any of the information they were about to deliver to his lawyers under the discovery phase of the upcoming criminal trial, such as the names of witnesses who will testify against him.

On Saturday, the presiding judge in the case, Tanya Chutkan,...

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