Achi news desk-
Donald Trump was held in contempt of court on Tuesday and fined US$9,000 for repeatedly violating a gag order barring him from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and others connected to his hush money case in York New.
If he does that again, the judge warned he could be jailed.
Prosecutors had alleged 10 crimes, but New York Judge Juan M. Merchan found there were nine. The ruling was a stunning rebuke to the former president and presumptive 2024 Republican nominee, who had insisted he was exercising his free speech rights.
Merchan wrote that Trump “is hereby warned that the Court will not tolerate continued willful violations of its lawful orders and if necessary and appropriate under the circumstances, will impose a custodial sentence.”
Among those he found to be violations, Merchan ruled that Trump’s message quoting Fox News host Jesse Watters’ claim that liberal activists lied to infiltrate the jury was a “clear violation” of the gag order. Merchan noted that the words in quotation marks in Trump’s April 17 message misstated what Watters actually said.
LISTEN | The Washington Post court reporter on the hush money trial:
Front Burner25:10What to expect from Trump’s ‘hush money’ trial
Trump stared down at the table in front of him as the judge read the verdict, frowning slightly.
He has been campaigning during his off-hours, but he is required to be 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 brought,” he said.
Trump must pay this week, remove social media posts
The ruling came at the start of the second week of evidence in the historic case. Manhattan prosecutors say Trump and his associates engaged in an illegal scheme to influence the 2016 presidential campaign by burying negative stories. He has pleaded not guilty.
Trump must pay the fine by close of business Friday, Merchan said in a written ruling. The former president removed, as ordered, the offending posts from his Truth Social account and campaign website on Tuesday.
Through detailed evidence on email exchanges, business transactions and bank accounts, prosecutors are building the foundation of their argument that Trump is guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with hush money payments.
Witness testimony came forward on Tuesday with banker Gary Farro, who began testifying in the case last week.
Also called to the stand was Keith Davidson, a lawyer who represented former Playboy model Karen McDougal and Stephanie Clifford, known as porn actor Stormy Daniels, in cash negotiations.
Clifford has claimed that she had a one-time sexual encounter with Trump, while McDougal stated in a media interview that she had a months-long affair with Trump many years ago. Trump has denied the allegations.
Farro, who is not charged with wrongdoing, testified Tuesday that Cohen used a shell company to wire the $130,000 payment to Daniels’ lawyer.
34 felony counts
Jurors previously heard from two other witnesses. Former longtime Trump executive assistant Rhona Graff said she remembers seeing Daniels once in Trump’s office suite at Trump Tower and assumed the performer was a potential rival for one of Trump’s. Apprentice– brand shows.
Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker outlined how he agreed to serve as the “eyes and ears” of the Trump campaign by helping to dispel unfavorable rumors and allegations about Trump and women.
Former federal prosecutor Joseph Moreno explains why hush money payments weren’t illegal, but the way they were hidden may have been.
The prosecution is leading to critical testimony from Cohen himself, who went to federal prison after pleading guilty to campaign finance violations and other crimes. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and has pleaded not guilty.
It is unclear when Cohen will stand; the trial is expected to continue for another month or more. And with every moment that Trump is in court as the first of his four criminal cases unfolds, he is becoming more and more frustrated as the November election gets ever closer.
Trump faces four separate indictments, the first former president to face any criminal charges. Legal wrangling and hearings, including pending Supreme Court decisions, have meant that two federal trials and a Georgia indictment he faces have yet to proceed to trial.
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