'There will be some accountability': Insider says Trump may still face jail time

Donald Trump may have crushed his federal cases by winning the presidential election, but there's still a chance he gets some jail time in the state case in which he was already convicted, according to an expert who was in the room during the former and incoming president's criminal trial.

Longtime Washington insider Jonathan Alter, who wrote a book about Trump's criminal trial, appeared on MSNBC on Sunday to discuss the upcoming sentencing in the case involving hush money payments to an adult film star.

He said "there will be some accountability," even if it isn't jail time.

ALSO READ:Ecstatic J6 offenders look forward to pardons from 'Daddy Trump' — and retribution

When asked, "What does justice look like" in this situation, Alter replied, "Obviously the big jury, the electorate, has acquitted Donald Trump. But the jury in [Judge Juan Merchan's] case convicted him and it would be disrespectful to the jury and the American criminal justice system for him to do nothing."

He said that some minor fines are possible.

"You could see a suspended sentence where he got probation. That he would be put on probation most likely in 2029," he added. "And you still could see what a lot of people expected, which is that after he leaves office he could be facing some short jail time."

He continued, saying, "That is not likely, but this judge has indicated, and I saw him say in court when he cited him for contempt, he said if you reoffend I will jail you. He was convicted at the end of that case. I think people assume that the election wipes away these cases. It will end the federal cases. Let's be clear. Those are dead. This is a state case, and he cannot pardon himself. The judge has some discretion here."

Watch below or click here.