The judge presiding over Donald Trump’s hush money case held him in contempt for violating a gag order on Truth Social. Judge Juan Merchan fined Trump $1,000 for each of the nine violations and warned of potential jail time for further infractions. The order prohibits Trump from making public statements about witnesses or jurors involved in the case. Prosecutors from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office accused Trump of violating the order at least 10 times, including posts attacking expected witnesses Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels. They sought fines and a warning of potential jail time for future violations.
During a hearing, prosecutors accused Trump of trying to be incarcerated for political purposes. Trump’s legal team argued that he had not willfully violated the order and was only responding to political attacks. However, the judge was unsatisfied with their explanations and pressed for specific examples of the attacks Trump was responding to. Trump’s attorneys struggled to provide concrete examples, with one attorney stating that the posts were responses to remarks by Cohen and reposts from others. However, they were unable to provide case law supporting their stance.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records related to reimbursing Cohen for the hush money payment to Daniels. Trump denies the allegations made by Daniels of a sexual encounter in 2006. If convicted, Trump could face up to four years in prison. The judge’s ruling on the contempt charges indicates that he will not tolerate further violations of the gag order and is willing to impose more severe punishments, including potential jail time. The ongoing legal battle highlights the tensions between Trump, the prosecutors, and the judge overseeing the case.
Merchan had previously expressed dissatisfaction with the defense’s arguments during an April 23 hearing, warning Trump’s attorney that he was losing credibility. Prosecutors had accused Trump of attacking witnesses and potential jurors in his posts on Truth Social, which they claimed violated the gag order. The tension between the two sides escalated as the judge considered potential fines and jail time for future violations. The legal battle surrounding Trump’s hush money case continues to unfold, with the former president facing significant legal implications if he is found guilty of the charges against him.
