Former President Donald Trump was found in criminal contempt by Judge Juan Merchan on Tuesday for repeatedly violating a gag order in his hush-money case. Trump, who posted on his Truth Social platform, breached the order by attacking jurors and witnesses.
Judge Merchan, overseeing Donald J. Trump’s criminal trial, has fined the former President $9,000 for repeated offenses.
Merchan found Trump in contempt for nine violations, each resulting in a $1,000 fine. Warning Trump that further violations could result in imprisonment, considering fines might not be a deterrent given Trump’s wealth.
The gag order prohibits Trump from making public statements about witnesses or jurors. Merchan deemed Trump’s social media posts and public comments as clear violations of this order.
He ordered Trump to remove offending posts from both his Truth Social account and campaign website promptly.
In response to Trump’s complaints about witness comments, Merchan hinted at modifying the gag order in the future. Michael Cohen, one of the expected witnesses, praised the decision, emphasizing that nobody is above the law.
Earlier, Merchan criticized Trump’s defense arguments and accused him of violating the gag order multiple times. Prosecutors sought maximum fines and removal of the posts, warning of potential jail time for future violations.
Trump faces 34 counts related to falsifying business records in the hush money case involving Stormy Daniels. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to four years in prison.