Former President Donald Trump has been found in contempt by Judge Juan Merchan for violating a gag order in his hush money trial for the 10th time. Judge Merchan indicated that he may consider jail time as a consequence in the future, although he expressed reluctance in doing so given the former president’s status. The judge fined Trump $1,000 for the violation and ordered him to pay the fine promptly. Violations of the gag order can result in a fine of up to $1,000, jail time of up to 30 days, or both.
The gag order prevents the defendant from speaking about potential witnesses or individuals associated with the court or the district attorney’s office. Trump has repeatedly violated this order, with his most recent infringement being comments made about the jury selection process. The judge’s ruling highlighted the potential for jail time if Trump continues to breach the gag order. Trump has denied the charges brought against him, including accusations of falsifying business records related to payments made to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.
In response to the contempt ruling, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign criticized the judge and the gag order, labeling it as unconstitutional and un-American. CNN legal analyst Karen Friedman Agnifilo suggested that Judge Merchan has alternative options to address the violations, such as detaining Trump for a short period in the courthouse. Despite the ruling, Trump’s supporters have portrayed the situation as an attack on his First Amendment rights and likened the judge’s actions to authoritarian tactics.
The judge’s written ruling emphasized that repeated violations of the gag order warrant more severe consequences, potentially including incarceration. While prosecutors had initially alleged multiple instances of Trump violating the order, the judge found that only one specific comment about the jury selection qualified as a violation. The ongoing hush money trial in New York continues to generate attention and controversy, with the possibility of jail time looming over Trump if he fails to comply with the court’s orders. Additional details regarding the case are being updated as the situation unfolds.
