Former President Donald Trump was hit with a serious warning of jail time for breaching a gag order during his ongoing criminal trial in New York regarding a hush money payment scandal.
The trial, overseen by Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan, centers around the former president’s involvement in falsifying business records. This relates to a $130,000 payment intended to suppress adult film actress Stormy Daniels' allegations about her past affair with Trump during the critical moments of the 2016 presidential campaign.
CNBC reported that Judge Merchan threatened Trump with jail time but many suspect this is an empty threat.
Trump has everything to gain from being jailed for a gag order violation as he has already made it clear to the public that the gag order is designed to censor him. Jailing him gives him ammunition and strengthens his case.
Last week marked the commencement of the trial with former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker and Trump’s secretary Rhona Graff taking the stand. The proceedings began unfolding layers of involvement by various personalities who were part of the narrative surrounding the alleged concealment.
This Tuesday, Judge Merchan found Trump in contempt of court for issuing nine online posts that targeted jurors and witnesses, a clear violation of the gag order imposed on him. As a result, Trump has been fined a total of $9,000 and was ordered to delete these posts by early afternoon, compliance which he adhered to just before 1:30 p.m.
Prosecutors pointedly criticized Trump's actions, remarking that he "knows what he’s not allowed to do and he does it anyway." This resulted in Judge Merchan starkly warning Trump about potential jail time if he continues to disregard court orders.
Defense attorney Todd Blanche attempted to dispute the contempt ruling, arguing that Trump's posts were merely shares of articles on political issues and did not breach the court's directive. Nevertheless, the judge’s decision remains firm on reinforcing adherence to legal boundaries.
In his testimony, Davidson revealed regrets over his choice of words during negotiations, notably described in a message stating the need to manage ‘the estrogen mafia’ a reference to the pressure from various media pursuing Daniels’ story.
Adding to the narrative, Michael Cohen, once Trump’s lawyer who facilitated the notorious $130,000 payment to Daniels, commented outside court, emphasizing the consequences of disregarding judicial authority and the necessity of upholding the law.
Thursday’s hearing also set the stage for Trump’s campaign to issue a public response, which remained pending at the moment. Simultaneously, Trump continues to frame the trial as a political attack aimed at hindering his campaign efforts to unseat current President Joe Biden.
The courtroom witnessed not only Davidson but also anticipates further testimonies from Gary Farro of First Republic Bank, Robert Browning from Purdue University, and Phillip Thompson of Esquire Deposition Solutions, as the trial progresses.
Cohen, echoing the sentiments of judicial responsibility, described Trump’s flouting of the gag order as “irrelevant” in the broader dialogue of judicial respect and legal compliance.
Meanwhile, Trump personally countered by lamenting the trial proceedings, demanding that Judge Merchan recuse himself and dismiss the case entirely. He contested the charges against him, referring to them as baseless and an orchestrated political maneuver.
Going forward, Trump is required to appear in person throughout the trial, a detail that underscores the gravity with which the court views his alleged misdemeanors.
Adding another layer of legal scrutiny, a follow-up hearing was scheduled for this Thursday to address further allegations of gag order violations which may influence Trump’s involvement in his presidential campaign. This sequence of legal encounters underscores a tumultuous time for Trump, who finds himself entangled in judicial proceedings that could potentially have far-reaching implications for his public and political life.
