Judge Juan Merchan warned Trump that if he continues to violate the judge's orders, he could impose “an incarceratory punishment.”

Prosecutors from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office accused Trump of violating the gag order numerous times since it went into effect.

The judge presiding over Donald Trump’s hush money case on Tuesday held the former president in criminal contempt over a series of posts on Truth Social that he said violated a gag order barring any attacks on jurors and witnesses.

Judge Juan Merchan ruled Trump in contempt for nine violations of his gag order, with a fine of $1,000 for each instance. The order prohibits the former president from “making or directing others to make public statements about known or reasonably foreseeable witnesses concerning their potential participation in the investigation or in this criminal proceeding,” and “public statements about any prospective juror or any juror.”

Merchan had indicated on April 23 that he was not impressed by the arguments from the defense, telling one of Trump’s attorneys that he was “losing all credibility” when he suggested that Trump was exercising caution to comply with the gag order.

  • blazera@lemmy.worldEnglish
    45·
    6 months ago

    . The judge is just taking as much care as possible to make sure that all the "t"s are crossed and "i"s dotted along the way

    Ive heard this for every single trial trump has faced. This strategy isnt doing shit but making sure trump is comfortable before facing no consequences yet again.

      • Natanael@slrpnk.net
        7·
        6 months ago

        And unlike prior trials it started with fines rather than just warnings. The maximum allowed fine, even!

      • blazera@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        6 months ago

        I mean it should have been criminal consequences for the russian collusion and ukraine blackmail cases. But both times I was assured they’re just making sure they handle everything spotlessly to ensure he faces…and it’s gone.

        • thisbenzingring@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
          1·
          6 months ago

          The complexity is crazy. The federal system failing to hold him accountable because of politics is disgraceful. Thankfully he can’t avoid the States legal system that same way.

          • blazera@lemmy.worldEnglish
            2·
            6 months ago

            man even this exact case has warped beyond the boundaries of whats supposed to be law to protect Trump. We already got a guilty verdict that Trump ordered his lawyer to pay this girl, but only the lawyer faced consequences. this shit’s in real jeopardy of hitting up against statute of limitations for a crime committed in 2016.