The judge presiding over former President Trump’s hush money trial in New York City has announced that he will hear arguments this month on whether Trump violated the gag order during the incident and should pay a $1,000 fine for each violation.
Judge Juan Melchán said he will hear arguments on April 24 at 2:15 p.m. on whether President Trump violated a gag order that prohibits him from speaking publicly about witnesses or expected testimony at trial. Ta.
The district attorney’s office argued Monday that Trump violated the order three times with social media posts and should pay $1,000 for each violation of the gag order. Prosecutors said President Trump should delete the post and asked for contempt charges.
Live updates: Jury selection begins, Trump’s hush money payments begin
Former President Trump attends a jury selection hearing in Manhattan Criminal Court on April 15, 2024, in New York City. (Michael Nagle/New York Post via AP/Pool)
“The defendant is aware of the April 1st order. We know it from various posts he has made,” prosecutor Christopher Conroy said before Merchan’s sentencing.
“I think it’s important that the court is reminded that Mr. Trump is a criminal defendant,” Conroy added.
Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, said the former president was defending himself.
“He is responding to vile, repeated and violent attacks by these witnesses,” Blanche said.
The defense team has until April 19 to submit a written response to prosecutors’ claims that Trump violated the gag order.
The hush money case begins Monday and will be the first time in history that a former president will go on trial on criminal charges. The lawsuit alleges that Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, accused former porn actor Stormy Daniels of ex-porn actor Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election to silence her claims that she had an affair with Trump in 2006. The case focuses on an alleged payment of $130,000 to Mr.
42 questions for potential jurors in President Trump’s hush money trial
Prosecutors allege that the Trump Organization paid Mr. Cohen and falsely recorded those payments as legal costs. Prosecutors are working to prove that President Trump falsified his records with intent to commit or conceal a second crime, which is a felony.
This courtroom sketch shows former President Trump in Manhattan Criminal Court on April 15, 2024, with Judge Juan Machan presiding. Trump faces charges stemming from so-called hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels ahead of her 2016 criminal trial. Presidential election. (Kristin Cornell)
President Trump has denied having an affair and has pleaded not guilty to 34 charges of falsifying business records.
The 45th president has repeatedly denounced the incident as a “witch hunt” on social media and at campaign rallies, and on Monday said in court that he was facing “political persecution.”
Trump calls hush money trial officially starting ‘an attack on America’
“Nothing like this has ever happened before” in lower Manhattan, he said. ”this is political persecution. …This is an incident that should never have happened. ”
Former President Trump leaves Trump Tower in New York City on April 15, 2024. (Fox News Digital Probe Media)
Trump added: “This is an attack on America, and that’s why I’m so proud to be here.” “This is truly an attack on a political opponent.”
We answered 9 questions about the Trump trial.
The trial begins with jury selection, during which more than 500 potential jurors are asked a series of questions to determine whether they can fairly evaluate the case. Potential jurors are dismissed until a pool of 12 jurors and a small number of alternates are selected. The jury selection process is expected to take at least a week.
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Trump’s legal team announced Monday that it wants the 45th president to be present at every meeting, which Marchand confirmed, but said Trump’s Secret Service presence would make that difficult. Ta.
