Former President Trump has once again been found in violation of a gag order, marking the tenth time he has disregarded the court’s directive to remain silent on certain matters. This latest infraction has prompted the judge to issue a stern warning to Trump, emphasizing that any further violations could result in potential jail time.
Judge Juan Merchan has ordered Trump to pay a fine of $1,000 for his attack on jurors in his significant criminal trial. This ruling comes shortly after the judge’s decision on a previous set of violations of gag orders.
Merchan wrote a notice to the defendant, informing them that any future violations of lawful orders could result in incarceration.
However, the judge did give Trump a partial victory by ruling that prosecutors had not adequately proven that Trump had violated his gag order in three additional statements.
The gag order prohibits Trump from directing insults towards witnesses, jurors, prosecutors, court staff, or the judge’s family. However, it does not prevent him from criticizing the judge or Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D).
Trump has strongly criticized the restrictions, arguing that they infringe upon his First Amendment rights to counter political criticisms. This comes as he, as the presumed Republican nominee, becomes the first former U.S. president to undergo a criminal trial.
The judge has determined that Trump has violated his gag order on 10 occasions and has been ordered to pay $1,000 for each violation. Prosecutors had initially chosen not to pursue jail time in order to minimize disruptions to the trial. However, the judge emphasized that the fines have proven ineffective.
The judge assured Trump that putting him in jail was the last thing he wanted to do, but emphasized that he had a duty to fulfill.
Merchan accused the individual of persistently violating the law, which he claimed was a direct assault on the principle of justice.
The latest violations differ from the previous set, which included nine posts on Truth Social and Trump’s campaign website during jury selection. This time, it is the former president’s spoken comments that are being implicated after the testimony began.
Prosecutors focused on Trump’s statements in the courthouse hallway, at a campaign stop, and during two media interviews.
During an interview with conservative channel Real America’s Voice on April 22, Trump violated his gag order by suggesting that he cannot receive a fair trial in deep-blue Manhattan, according to the judge’s findings.
In a recent statement, Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with the jury selection process, claiming that it was conducted at a fast pace with an overwhelming majority of Democrats. He further criticized the area, referring to it as predominantly Democrat and emphasizing the unfairness of the situation.
Multiple judges have dismissed these arguments, refusing to grant the former president’s request for a change of venue or a trial delay. Merchan has been particularly vocal in his efforts to address the former president’s inflammatory statements and prevent any intimidation of the jurors.
Merchan expressed his frustration during the recent hearing, stating that the jury’s fairness was being questioned. He emphasized that this implication was apparent to anyone who heard the comment.
During the hearing, Prosecutor Chris Conroy argued that the trial is put at risk by any comments made by Trump regarding the jury.
According to Conroy, the individual in question utilized their media platform to openly criticize the jury involved in this case. This direct and public criticism of the jury threatens the integrity of the entire legal process.
The judge did not hold Trump in contempt on Monday for three other alleged violations that targeted two of the state’s crucial witnesses: ex-National Enquirer publisher David Pecker and Trump’s former fixer, Michael Cohen.
In the courthouse on April 22, the former president expressed his opinion to reporters, stating that Cohen’s representation skills were lacking in many ways. Additionally, he later referred to his former personal attorney as a convicted liar with no credibility whatsoever in an interview with 6ABC Philadelphia.
Trump’s lawyers have raised concerns about Cohen’s continuous social media attacks against Trump, asserting that the former president is simply retaliating to political assaults. Merchan concurred with Trump’s perspective, stating that there is insufficient evidence to prove that Trump’s statements were not protected political speech, which was made in response to the political attacks by Michael Cohen.
According to Trump, Pecker is a “nice guy.” This comment was made by Trump on April 25, just hours before Pecker was expected to testify. Prosecutors interpreted this comment as a subtle warning.
Prosecutor Chris Conroy had a clear and direct message for Pecker: “Be nice.”
However, the judge was not convinced and stated on Monday that he could not establish beyond a reasonable doubt that the statement “constituted a veiled threat.”
In his ruling, Merchan acknowledged the People’s argument regarding the Exhibit, recognizing that seemingly harmless or even positive words and phrases can actually have a hidden agenda, such as the intention to threaten, harass, or intimidate.
Determining the meaning of a statement is not solely reliant on the words used. Factors such as context, facial expressions, emphasis, and even the cadence of speech are all crucial in reaching an accurate understanding.
Trump has filed an appeal against the gag order, stating that it infringes upon his First Amendment rights. However, at present, the gag order is still in effect. Trump’s legal team argues that he is not purposefully disregarding the order.
In their opposition to the order on Thursday, Trump’s lawyers highlighted President Biden’s remarks at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. During the event, President Biden humorously expressed his sympathy for Trump, who had recently experienced “stormy weather.” This alluded to the controversy surrounding Stormy Daniels, the adult film actress who had received hush money, and who was central to the case.
During the trial, Trump attorney Todd Blanche pointed out a statement made by President Biden in a public forum last weekend. Blanche highlighted that President Biden discussed the trial and even went as far as mocking President Trump.
Blanche mentioned that he is running for president and emphasized the importance of his ability to speak.
