Donald Trump was held in contempt of court Tuesday and fined $9,000 for that barred him from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and some others connected to his New York hush money case.
And if he does it again, the judge warned, he could be jailed.
Prosecutors had alleged 10 violations, but New York Judge Juan M. Merchan found there were nine. Trump stared down at the table in front of him as the judge read the ruling, frowning slightly.
It was a stinging rebuke of the Republican former president91裸聊视频檚 insistence that he was exercising his free speech rights and a reminder that he91裸聊视频檚 a criminal defendant subject to the harsh realities of trial procedure. The judge91裸聊视频檚 suggestion that he may jail the former president signaled that Trump91裸聊视频檚 already precarious legal standing could further spiral depending on his behavior during the trial.
Merchan wrote that he is Trump91裸聊视频檚 First Amendment rights, 91裸聊视频減articularly given his candidacy for the office of President of the United States.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淚t is critically important that defendant91裸聊视频檚 legitimate free speech rights not be curtailed, that he be able to fully campaign for the office which he seeks and that he be able to respond and defend himself against political attacks,91裸聊视频� Merchan wrote.
Still, he warned that the court would not tolerate 91裸聊视频渨illful violations of its lawful orders and that if necessary and appropriate under the circumstances, it will impose an incarceratory punishment.91裸聊视频�
With that statement, the judge drew nearer the specter of Trump becoming the first former president of the United States behind bars.
Trump is used to having constant access to his social media bullhorn to slam opponents and speak his mind. After he was banned from Twitter following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, Trump launched his own platform, where his posts wouldn91裸聊视频檛 be blocked or restricted. And he has long tried to distance himself from controversial messages he91裸聊视频檚 amplified to his millions of followers by insisting they91裸聊视频檙e 91裸聊视频渙nly retweets.91裸聊视频�
But he does , which were also imposed in his civil fraud trial. After he was found to have violated those orders, he paid more than $15,000 in fines.
Tuesday91裸聊视频檚 ruling came at the start of the second week of testimony in the historic case, in which Manhattan prosecutors argue Trump and his associates took part in an illegal scheme to influence the 2016 presidential campaign by purchasing and then burying seamy stories. The payouts went to a doorman with a torrid yarn; former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who had accusations of an affair; and to porn performer Stormy Daniels, who alleged a sexual encounter with Trump. He has pleaded not guilty and says the stories are all fake.
Trump was ordered to pay the gag-order fine by the close of business Friday and must remove seven offending posts from his Truth Social account and two from his campaign website by 2:15 p.m. EDT Tuesday. The judge is also weighing and will hear arguments Thursday. He also announced that he will halt the trial on May 17 to allow Trump to attend his son Barron91裸聊视频檚 high school graduation.
Of the 10 posts, the one Merchan ruled was not a violation came on April 10, a post referring to witnesses Michael Cohen and Daniels as 91裸聊视频渟leaze bags.91裸聊视频� Merchan said Trump91裸聊视频檚 contention that he was responding to previous posts by Cohen 91裸聊视频渋s sufficient to give91裸聊视频� him pause on whether the post was a violation.
Among those he found to be violations, Merchan ruled that a Trump post quoting Fox News host Jesse Watters91裸聊视频� claim that liberal activists were lying to infiltrate the jury 91裸聊视频渃onstitutes a clear violation91裸聊视频� of the gag order. Merchan noted that the words contained within the quotation marks in Trump91裸聊视频檚 April 17 post misstated what Watters actually said.
Merchan cautioned that the gag order 91裸聊视频渘ot be used as a sword instead of a shield by potential witnesses91裸聊视频� and that if people who are protected by the order, like Cohen, continue to attack Trump 91裸聊视频渋t becomes apparent91裸聊视频� they don91裸聊视频檛 need the gag order91裸聊视频檚 protection.
Cohen, Trump91裸聊视频檚 former attorney, has said he will refrain from commenting about Trump until after he testifies at the trial. On Tuesday, he said in a text message to The Associated Press: 91裸聊视频淭he imposed fine is irrelevant. Judge Merchan91裸聊视频檚 decision elucidates that this behavior will not be tolerated and that no one is above the law.91裸聊视频�
In other developments, testimony resumed Tuesday with Gary Farro, a banker who helped Cohen open accounts, including one that Cohen used to buy Daniels91裸聊视频� silence. She alleged a 2006 sexual encounter with Trump, which he denies. Jurors also heard from Keith Davidson, a lawyer who represented McDougal and Daniels in their negotiations with the National Enquirer and Cohen.
Trump is charged with in connection with the hush money payments. The detailed evidence on business transactions and bank accounts is setting the stage for testimony from Cohen, who went to federal prison after and other crimes.
Jurors have also heard from Trump91裸聊视频檚 longtime executive assistant, Rhona Graff, who recounted that in Trump Tower and figured she was a potential contestant for one of Trump91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频淎pprentice91裸聊视频�-brand shows.
Last week, former laid out how he agreed to serve as the Trump campaign91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频渆yes and ears91裸聊视频� by helping to squelch unflattering rumors and claims about Trump and women. to scoop up and sit on stories.
Trump91裸聊视频檚 attorneys have suggested that in an effort to protect his name and his family 91裸聊视频� not to influence the outcome of the presidential election.
The trial 91裸聊视频� the first of to come before a jury 91裸聊视频� is expected to last for another month or more. And with every moment Trump is in court, he91裸聊视频檚 growing increasingly frustrated while the November election moves ever closer.
For his part, Trump has been campaigning in his off-hours, but he is required to be in court when it is in session, four days a week. Outside the courtroom Tuesday, he again criticized the case.
91裸聊视频淭his is a case that should have never been brought,91裸聊视频� he said.
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