The New York criminal trial of former president Donald Trump resumed with a hearing to determine if he violated his gag order by speaking about potential witnesses. This came after Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan found Trump in criminal contempt for nine violations of the gag order, which prohibits him from discussing jurors, witnesses, and others involved in the case. State prosecutors accused Trump of violating the gag order four more times, prompting a second hearing. The judge imposed a fine of $1,000 for each violation and warned Trump that future violations could result in jail time.
Prosecutor Chris Conroy stated that Trump’s statements were detrimental to the trial and the fair administration of justice. However, the prosecutors decided not to seek jail time at this point in order to minimize disruptions to the proceedings. The hearing took place before prosecutors resumed questioning Keith Davidson, an attorney who helped arrange a hush money payment from Trump’s lawyer to porn star Stormy Daniels. Davidson testified about his involvement in selling the story rights for both Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who claimed to have had affairs with Trump while he was married.
The $130,000 payment to Daniels is a focal point of the trial, with Trump facing 34 counts of falsifying business records. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg alleges that Trump mislabeled records as part of a scheme to secretly reimburse his lawyer, Michael Cohen, who paid Daniels just before the 2016 presidential election. Bragg asserts that Trump unlawfully tried to influence the election by purchasing and suppressing damaging information about himself. Trump, who is the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, is required to attend court throughout the trial, which is expected to last six weeks.
Despite being a multibillionaire, Trump was fined $1,000 for each violation of the gag order, with the judge warning him that further breaches of court orders could result in imprisonment. The prosecution argued that Trump’s statements regarding potential witnesses were harmful to the trial process and the pursuit of justice. While the prosecutors did not seek jail time at this stage, they emphasized their commitment to minimizing disruptions to the trial. The trial revolves around allegations that Trump falsified business records in a scheme to reimburse his lawyer for a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels, with the aim of influencing the 2016 presidential election.
The hearing involving Trump’s violations of the gag order preceded testimony from attorney Keith Davidson, who played a role in arranging a payment from Trump’s lawyer to Stormy Daniels. Davidson provided details about his involvement in selling the story rights for Daniels and another woman who claimed to have had a relationship with Trump. The $130,000 payment to Daniels is a central issue in the trial, where Trump is facing multiple charges related to falsifying business records. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has accused Trump of attempting to influence the 2016 election by suppressing damaging information about himself through this payment scheme. Trump, as the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, is required to be present in court throughout the anticipated six-week trial.
