Judge Finds Donald Trump in Contempt for 10th Time Over Gag Order
Former President Donald Trump has been found in contempt of court for the 10th time by Judge Juan Merchan over violating a gag order in his hush money trial.
The judge has threatened jail time and fines, citing repeated violations of the court’s orders.
During the trial, Trump made comments about the makeup of the jury, which the judge deemed as a violation of the gag order.
Trump’s remarks raised concerns about the integrity of the trial and the safety of the jurors and their loved ones.
In response to Trump’s repeated violations, Judge Merchan has imposed a fine of $1,000 and ordered Trump to pay it by the end of the week.
This comes after the judge fined Trump $9,000 for nine previous violations of the gag order.
The gag order prohibits the defendant from speaking out about potential witnesses and individuals associated with the court or the New York district attorney’s office.
Trump’s campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, criticized the judge’s ruling, calling the gag order “unconstitutional and un-American.”
However, legal analysts suggest that the judge has options beyond jail time, such as short periods of detention in the courthouse.
While prosecutors alleged that Trump violated the gag order on multiple occasions, the judge ruled that only Trump’s comments about the jury selection constituted a violation.
The ruling warns Trump of potential incarceration for future violations of the court’s orders.
