Court warns: ‘if necessary and appropriate under the circumstances, it will impose an incarceratory punishment.’
The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s criminal trial held the former president in contempt of court on Tuesday for violating a gag order, warning he could face jail if he repeats the offense.
In a contempt motion filed by Judge Juan Merchan, he accused Trump of willfully violating the order 9 separate times, fining the president $1,000 for each violation.
“The Court finds Defendant in criminal contempt for willfully disobeying a lawful mandate of this Court,” Judge Merchan wrote.
“The court finds the people have met their burden of proof and have demonstrated contempt. Mr. Trump is fined $1,000 on each of those two.”
“Defendant is hereby warned that the Court will not tolerate continued
willful violations of its lawful orders and that if necessary and appropriate under the circumstances, it will impose an incarceratory punishment,” Merchan wrote.
Trump was additionally ordered to remove seven “offending posts” from his Truth Social account, and two posts from his campaign website.
Despite the contempt charge, Trump still spoke to reporters outside the NYC courthouse on Tuesday morning, slamming Joe Biden for the protests unfolding at college campuses across America.
Politically motivated Judge Merchan just made a terrible ruling against me in court! He fined “Trump $9,000”for violating the unconstitutional gag order that he put on me. I mush have free speech! Also I should be at Barton’s graduation instead of this court room! Poor Barron! pic.twitter.com/u7HfS3X4EA
— Donald J. Trump (Parody) (@realDonParody) April 30, 2024
It remains to be seen whether Trump will call Judge Merchan’s bluff by willfully violating the gag order again to test if the judge will follow through on his threat to jail him.
Read the order:
