Judge Juan Merchan on Monday again cited former President Donald Trump for violating the gag order he imposed at the trial and warned he may just face jail “if necessary” for proceeding to forget about it.
Merchan in the past discovered that Trump had violated the gag order in 9 different circumstances and fined him $9,000. In issuing that call, Merchan warned Trump that persisted violations of the order may just lead to incarceration — a danger he made again Monday after fining him the utmost of $1,000 for the latest violation.
“It appears that the $1,000 fines are not serving as a deterrent,” Merchan stated.
“The last thing I want to do is to put you in jail,” he added. “You are the former president of the United States, and possibly the next president as well.”
“There are many reasons why incarceration is truly a last resort for you,” he persisted, including that taking that step could be “disruptive to the proceedings.”
But Merchan warned Trump that “his continued willful violations of this court’s orders threaten the administration of justice and constitute a direct attack on the rule of law. I cannot allow that to continue.”
Merchan also said that if the offending statement has been posted to Trump’s Truth Social account or his official campaign website, it must be removed by 2:15 p.m.
Merchan ruled Monday that Trump’s comments in an interview last month that the jury was “picked so speedy” and was “95% Democrats” violated the gag order. The order prohibits Trump from discussing the jury or witnesses with the intent to influence their decisions or testimony.
“In doing so, Defendant no longer best known as into query the integrity, and subsequently the legitimacy of those complaints, however again raised the threat of worry for the security of the jurors and in their family members,” Merchan wrote.
Trump has repeatedly claimed Merchan’s gag order is unfair and unconstitutional.
“This pass judgement on has taken away my constitutional proper,” Trump said in the hallway last week after initially being held in contempt of court. “We’re submitting, I believe nowadays, a constitutional movement.”
He added, “If someone says one thing about me and I’m no longer allowed to reply, that is by no means came about earlier than.”
Trump has time and again complained about Michael Cohen, his former attorney, who is anticipated to testify for the prosecution. Trump’s attorney Todd Blanche argued in court docket Thursday that Cohen’s statements about Trump imply the previous president must be capable of reply. He additionally argued that as a presidential candidate, Trump must be capable of shield himself, pointing to a commentary by means of President Joe Biden that perceived to allude to the case.
