Judge Juan Merchan fined former President Donald Trump $9,000 Tuesday for violating his gag order, according to multiple reports.
Prosecutors argued in court filings that Trump violated the order in 10 instances, arguing for the judge to impose the maximum $1,000 fine for each alleged violation. The gag order prevents Trump from making statements about witnesses, prosecutors other than the district attorney, court staff and jurors, along with family members of the staff, district attorney or judge. (RELATED: Prosecutor Finally Reveals Key Details Of ‘Crime’ Alleged In Alvin Bragg’s Indictment Of Trump)
Last week, prosecutors brought up four new violations of the order, which Merchan will consider on Thursday.
Now:
Justice Merchan finds Trump in contempt on all but one of the first 10 alleged violations of the gag order.
Trump must pay $1,000 per violation, and he faces a hearing later this week on the last four.
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) April 30, 2024
“He’s allowed to respond to political attacks, Your Honor,” Trump’s attorney Todd Blanche told the judge during a hearing considering the alleged violations, according to Politico. “There is no dispute that President Trump is facing a barrage of political attacks from all sides, including from the two witnesses referenced in the early post.”
Merchan imposed the gag order on Trump on March 26, but expanded it on April 1 after Trump attacked his daughter on social media.
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