NEW YORK (AP) — A judge on Tuesday found Donald Trump in contempt of court and fined him $9,000 for repeatedly violating a gag order prohibiting him from making public comments about witnesses, jurors or others connected to his trial. remains in New York over accusations that he tried to suppress unfavorable news. The judge also warned Trump that he could go to prison if he continues the practice.
Prosecutors reported 10 violations, but Judge Juan M. Merchan determined there were nine. Still, the ruling is a sharp rebuke to the former Republican president, who had insisted that he was exercising his right to free expression.
Trump “is hereby warned that the Court will not tolerate further violations of its legitimate orders and that, if necessary and appropriate under the circumstances, it will impose a punishment of imprisonment,” the judge wrote.
Trump kept his eyes down as the judge read the ruling, making a slight gesture of displeasure.
The decision came at the beginning of the second week of testimony in the historic case. Trump is accused of creating an illegal plot to influence the 2016 election by suppressing news that was unfavorable to him. Trump has pleaded not guilty.
Trump must pay the fine by the end of business hours on Friday, Merchan stated in a written ruling. He must delete seven of his violating posts from his Truth Social account and two from his campaign website by 2:15 p.m. EDT Tuesday, Merchan said.
The judge is looking into other apparent violations of the gag order and will hear arguments Thursday.
The hearings will resume Tuesday with testimony from Gary Farro, a banker who helped former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen open accounts, including one Cohen used to buy the silence of porn actress Stormy Daniels. She alleges that she had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006, which Trump denies.
For his part, the former president and virtual Republican presidential candidate has been campaigning on other days, but is required to be present in court when it is in session, four days a week. Outside the courtroom, Trump again criticized prosecutors.
“This is a case that should never have been filed,” he declared.
The jury has so far heard from two other witnesses. Rhona Graff, formerly Trump’s executive assistant, recalled that she once saw Daniels in Trump’s office in Trump Tower and thought Daniels was being considered for one of Trump’s “reality shows.” David Pecker, former editor of the National Enquirer tabloid, described how she agreed to be “the eyes and ears” of the Trump campaign by helping to suppress unfavorable rumors about Trump and his relationships with women.
Through detailed testimony about email exchanges, business transactions and bank accounts, prosecutors are building their case that Trump is guilty of 34 counts of falsifying financial records linked to the hush payments. Prosecutors are preparing for testimony from Cohen, who served time in federal prison after pleading guilty to violations of campaign finance laws and other crimes. Trump has pleaded not guilty and has denied any wrongdoing.
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2024-05-01 20:06:26