Former President Donald Trump was held in contempt of court and fined $9,000 on Tuesday for repeatedly violating a gag order in his New York hush money case. The judge, Juan M. Merchan, warned that further violations could result in jail time for Trump.
Prosecutors had alleged 10 violations, but the judge found nine, prompting a stern rebuke of Trump’s insistence on exercising his free speech rights.
Despite acknowledging Trump’s First Amendment rights, Merchan emphasized the importance of adhering to lawful orders and cautioned against willful violations.
Trump (Credits: NBC New York)
Trump, who has a history of tangling with gag orders, criticized the ruling as unconstitutional and expressed frustration at being unable to freely express himself, especially in the midst of his presidential campaign. He deleted the offending posts from his social media accounts as ordered but maintained his stance against the gag order.
Meanwhile, the trial in New York, which centers on allegations of Trump and his associates engaging in an illegal scheme to influence the 2016 presidential campaign, continues.
Testimony included accounts from a Hollywood lawyer involved in negotiating hush money deals and a banker who helped facilitate payments.
Donald Trump (Credits: ABC News – The Walt Disney Company)
The trial also shed light on the relationship between Trump, his associates, and the media outlets involved in suppressing unfavorable stories.
While Trump faces legal challenges on multiple fronts, including a federal criminal election interference case in Washington, the New York trial represents a serious legal hurdle with potential repercussions for the former president.
