Judge Juan Merchan found Donald Trump in contempt on Tuesday for violating a gag order nine times, imposing $1,000 fines for each infraction and warning of potential jail time for further breaches. The Manhattan prosecutors had requested this action, alleging Trump’s violations of the order barring him from speaking about witnesses and jurors.
Merchan, limited by a $1,000 maximum fine per violation, ordered Trump to pay the fines by Friday’s close and remove offending posts from his Truth Social account and campaign website promptly. However, recognizing the potential ineffectiveness of fines alone for a wealthy defendant, Merchan warned Trump of possible jail time for continued violations.
Trump (Credits: NBC News)
Prosecutors highlighted Trump’s social media and website posts as breaching Merchan’s order, particularly regarding comments on jurors and witnesses, notably Michael Cohen. Trump’s statements quoted from Fox News and added his own language, disregarding the gag order’s restrictions.
Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, argued against the violations, claiming some posts were reposts and citing attacks on Trump from witnesses like Cohen and Stormy Daniels. Merchan expressed frustration with Blanche’s arguments, particularly rejecting the repost defense concerning the quoted Fox News post.
Merchan’s ruling coincided with the second week of trial testimony where Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records. As further alleged violations are set for a gag order hearing, the case unfolds amid ongoing legal battles over Trump’s adherence to court directives.
