NEW YORK (AP) – Donald Trump was charged Tuesday with contempt of court and fined $9,000. Repeatedly violate a gag order This barred him from speaking publicly about witnesses, jurors and some others involved in the New York hush money case. And the judge warned that if he did it again, he could be jailed.
Prosecutors alleged 10 violations, but New York State Judge Juan M. Marchan found nine. As the judge read the verdict, Trump stared at the table in front of him, frowning slightly.
What you need to know about Trump's hush money trial:
It was a scathing rebuke of the former Republican president's insistence that he was exercising his right to free speech and a reminder that he is a criminal defendant exposed to the harsh realities of court proceedings. The judge's suggestion that the former president could be jailed suggested that Trump's already precarious legal position could worsen depending on his actions during the trial.
Associated Press correspondent Julie Walker reports that Donald Trump is being held in contempt of court for violating a gag order in the hush money case.
Machan wrote that he was “I am strongly aware of this and am protecting it.” Trump's First Amendment rights, “especially given that he is a candidate for president of the United States.”
“It is vital that the defendant's legitimate right to free speech is not curtailed, that he is able to campaign sufficiently to obtain the office he seeks, and that he is able to defend himself against political attacks.” Marchand wrote.
Former President Donald Trump waves to the media as he returns from a break during his trial in Manhattan Criminal Court on Friday, April 26, 2024 in New York. (Dave Saunders/The New York Times, Associated Press, Pool)
Still, he warned, courts “will not tolerate willful violations of legal orders and will impose prison sentences if necessary and appropriate under the circumstances.”
With this statement, the judge moved Trump closer to becoming the first former U.S. president to be sentenced to prison.
Mr. Trump is accustomed to constantly accessing the social media megaphone to criticize his opponents or voice his thoughts. After being banned from Twitter in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, Trump launched his own platform where his posts are not blocked or restricted. And he has long tried to distance himself from the controversial messages he has spread to his millions of followers, claiming they were “just retweets.”
but he does Have experience with gag orders, which was also imposed at his civil fraud trial. After being found to have violated these orders, he paid more than $15,000 in fines.
Tuesday's ruling comes in a landmark case in which Manhattan prosecutors allege that Mr. Trump and his associates participated in an illegal scheme to influence the 2016 presidential campaign by buying and burying dubious articles. The decision came at the beginning of the second week of testimony in the case. Payment was handed over to the doorman with a furious string. Former Playboy model Karen McDougall has been accused of having an affair. and Stormy Daniels, the porn performer who claimed to have had sexual contact with Trump. He maintains his innocence and claims the story is entirely fabricated.
Mr. Trump was ordered to pay the gag order fine by the close of business on Friday, and by 2:15 p.m. EDT Tuesday he had removed seven violating posts from his Truth social account and two from his campaign website. was ordered to be removed.Judges also evaluate Other allegations of violations of gag orders by President Trump Arguments are scheduled to be held on Thursday. He also announced that the trial would be postponed on May 17 so that President Trump could attend his son Barron's high school graduation ceremony.
Of the 10 posts, the one Marchan found not in violation was from April 10, when he called witness Michael Cohen and Daniels “scumbags.” Marchan said Trump's claim that he was responding to Cohen's past posts is “sufficient to give him pause” as to whether the post was a violation.
Among the violations Marchan found were Trump's post citing Fox News host Jesse Watters' claim that liberal activists had lied to infiltrate juries, a “clear violation” of the gag order. It is a violation,'' the court ruled. Marchan pointed out that words in quotation marks in Trump's April 17 post misstated what Watters actually said.
Marchan warned that gag orders “must not be used as a sword instead of a shield by potential witnesses,” as those protected by gag orders, like Cohen, continue to attack Trump. If there was, he warned, it was “clear” that a gag order would not be necessary. Protection of gag orders.
Mr. Trump's former lawyer, Mr. Cohen, said he would refrain from commenting on Mr. Trump until he testifies at trial. On Tuesday, he said in a text message to The Associated Press: “The fines imposed are irrelevant. Judge Machan's judgment makes clear that this type of behavior will not be tolerated and that no one is above the law.”
In other developments, testimony resumed Tuesday with Gary Faro, the banker who helped Mr. Cohen open accounts, including the one he used to buy Mr. Daniels' silence. Ta. She claimed in 2006 that she had sexual contact with Trump, which he denies. Jurors also heard from attorney Keith Davidson, who represented McDougall and Daniels in their negotiations with the National Enquirer and Cohen.
Trump will be charged with a crime 34 felonies for falsifying business records In connection with hush money payments. Detailed evidence about business transactions and bank accounts sets the stage for testimony from Mr. Cohen, who went to federal prison after the incident. Pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations in 2018 and other crimes.
Jurors also heard from Rona Graf, Trump's longtime aide: She recalled meeting Daniels once in President Trump's office suite. Trump Tower thought she was a potential contestant for one of Trump's “The Apprentice” branded shows.
Last week, former National Enquirer Publisher David Pecker She explained how she agreed to serve as the Trump campaign's “eyes and ears” by quashing unwarranted rumors and allegations about Trump and women. Pecker explained how he paid $180,000. I scoop up the story and sit down.
Trump's lawyers have suggested that: he was engaged He wanted to protect his name and family from influencing the outcome of the presidential election.
Trial — first Trump's four criminal cases The case is expected to take more than a month to go before a jury. And as the November election approaches, President Trump is increasingly frustrated with each court appearance.
Mr. Trump campaigns during off-hours, but must appear in court four days a week during the session. He again criticized the case outside court on Tuesday.
“This is an incident that should never have happened,” he said.
___ Long reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Zeke Miller in Washington and Jill Colvin in New York contributed to this report.
