Judge Juan Merchan has ordered Trump to pay a fine of $1,000 for his attack on the jurors in his landmark criminal trial. This comes shortly after the judge’s ruling on a previous set of violations related to gag orders.
The defendant has been informed that any future violations of its lawful orders may result in incarceration, according to the notice issued by Merchan.
However, the judge did grant Trump a partial victory by stating that prosecutors had failed to sufficiently prove his violation of the gag order in three additional statements.
The gag order prohibits Trump from directing insults towards witnesses, jurors, prosecutors, court staff, or the judge’s family. However, it does not prevent him from criticizing the judge himself or Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D).
President Trump has strongly criticized the restrictions, claiming that they infringe upon his First Amendment rights to counter political criticisms. This comes as he, as the presumptive Republican nominee, becomes the first former U.S. president to undergo a criminal trial.
In a stern yet compassionate tone, the judge conveyed to Trump that incarcerating him would be the last resort. However, the judge emphasized that he had a duty to fulfill, regardless of personal feelings.
The latest round of violations includes not only the nine posts on Truth Social and Trump’s campaign website that were published during jury selection, but also implicates the former president’s spoken comments after the testimony began.
Prosecutors focused their attention on Trump’s statements made in the courthouse hallway, at a campaign stop, and during two media interviews.
During an interview with conservative channel Real America’s Voice on April 22, Trump violated his gag order by suggesting that he cannot receive a fair trial in deep-blue Manhattan. The judge found this to be a violation of the order.
In a recent statement, Trump expressed his concerns about the rapid selection of the jury, claiming that 95 percent of them were Democrats. He further emphasized that the area where the trial took place was predominantly Democrat, portraying it as an unfair situation.
Several judges have dismissed these arguments, refusing to grant the former president a change of venue or a delay in the trial. Merchan, in particular, has strongly cautioned against any attempts to intimidate the jurors, in his efforts to address the former president’s inflammatory statements.
During last week’s hearing, Merchan expressed his frustration, stating that the jury does not appear to be fair. He emphasized that the comment made during the hearing conveyed this implication to anyone who heard it.
During the hearing, Prosecutor Chris Conroy argued that the trial faces a potential risk when President Trump makes any comments about the jury.
Conroy stated that the individual in question utilized their media platform to openly criticize the jury involved in this case. By discussing the jury, they have potentially put the entire legal process at risk, leaving no room for interpretation.
The judge did not find Trump in contempt on Monday for three other alleged violations targeting two important witnesses in the state: former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker and Trump’s former fixer, Michael Cohen.
During a courthouse encounter on April 22, the ex-president expressed his opinion about Cohen’s legal representation, stating that he was lacking in various aspects. In a subsequent interview with 6ABC Philadelphia, the former president further criticized his former personal attorney, referring to him as a convicted liar without any credibility.
Trump’s lawyers have raised concerns about Cohen’s continuous criticism of Trump on social media. They argue that the former president is simply defending himself against political attacks. Merchan concurred with Trump’s stance and concluded that there was insufficient evidence to determine that Trump’s statements were not protected political speech, especially considering they were made in response to Michael Cohen’s political attacks.
Trump made a comment about Pecker on April 25, stating that he is a “nice guy.” According to prosecutors, this comment was seen as a veiled warning.
Prosecutor Chris Conroy issued a stern warning to Pecker, stating, “Be nice.”
In contrast, the judge remained unconvinced and expressed his skepticism in his written statement on Monday. He stated that he was unable to establish, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the statement could be classified as a veiled threat.
In his ruling, Judge Merchan acknowledges and agrees with the People’s argument regarding the Exhibit. He recognizes that seemingly harmless or even positive words and phrases can sometimes hide a darker intention, such as the intent to threaten, harass, or intimidate.
Determining the meaning of a statement requires more than just words. Context, facial expressions, emphasis, and even cadence play a crucial role in reaching such a determination.
Trump has filed an appeal against the gag order, asserting that it infringes upon his First Amendment rights. However, as of now, the order continues to be in effect. His legal team argues that he is not intentionally defying the order.
Trump’s attorneys objected to the order on Thursday, citing President Biden’s remarks during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. During the event, the president humorously expressed his concern over the difficulties Trump had encountered, referring to the Stormy Daniels scandal.
During the trial, Todd Blanche, an attorney representing former President Trump, brought up an incident involving President Biden. Blanche mentioned that in a recent public forum, Biden discussed the trial and made derogatory remarks about Trump, even mocking him. This incident highlights the political tensions surrounding the trial and suggests that the animosity between the two leaders continues even after Trump’s presidency.
According to the Trump attorney, the former president is unable to counter Biden’s attacks in the manner he desires due to the speech gag placed upon him.
Blanche mentioned that he is running for president and emphasized the importance of his ability to speak.
Merchan, however, argued that Biden’s remarks are not subject to the gag order.
According to Merchan, it is within his rights for him to provide a response to a statement made by President Biden.
Former President Trump is currently facing 34 counts of falsifying business records in a criminal trial in New York. The focus of the trial revolves around a hush money deal that was made with an adult film actress before the 2016 election, with the intention of concealing an alleged affair. Trump has pleaded not guilty and vehemently denied any involvement in the affair.
The information was last updated at 10:06 a.m. EDT.
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