Judge Slaps Trump with Ksh.1.2M Fine, Threatens Jail in Hush Money Case
The judge presiding over Donald Trump’s criminal hush money trial imposed a $9,000 (Ksh.1.25 million) fine on the former U.S. president for contempt of court on Tuesday. The judge also warned that Trump could face jail time if he keeps breaching a gag order.
In a written decision, Justice Juan Merchan stated that the fine might not effectively deter the affluent businessman-turned-politician. He expressed regret over his lack of authority to impose a more substantial penalty.
“Defendant is hereby warned that the Court will not tolerate willful violations of its lawful orders and that if necessary and appropriate under the circumstances, it will impose an incarceration punishment,” Merchan wrote.
Merchan had issued the gag order to stop Trump from speaking negatively about witnesses and others involved in the case.
The judge imposed a $1,000 fine on Trump for each of the nine online comments that were deemed to breach the order not to criticize witnesses or other trial participants. Prosecutors had identified 10 posts that could potentially violate the order.
Between April 10 and April 17, the posts featured an article describing Michael Cohen, his former lawyer, as a “habitual liar.” Cohen is anticipated to play a key role as a witness in the trial.
Another post quoted a Fox News pundit who claimed “undercover liberal activists” were trying to sneak onto the jury. Merchan rejected Trump’s argument that he could not be held liable for “reposts” of material he did not write himself.
At a hearing on Thursday, Merchan will decide whether to implement additional penalties for other remarks.
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The judge instructed Trump to take down the statements from his Truth Social account and his campaign website by 2:15 p.m. EDT (1815 GMT).
When reporters inquired about the fine during a break, Trump did not respond.
Trump contends that the gag order infringes on his right to free speech. His attorney Todd Blanche stated to Merchan last week that the contested remarks were reactions to political criticisms.
Merchan observed that Blanche failed to offer any proof showing that the anticipated witnesses had targeted Trump before him insulting them.
Trump faces a $9,000 fine that must be paid by Friday, which is a minor cost for him considering he has already secured $266.6 million in bonds to challenge civil judgments in two separate legal matters.
A prison sentence, however, would be an unexpected turn in the first criminal trial involving a former U.S. president.
It is uncertain whether Trump would be placed in New York City’s Rikers Island jail or if security concerns would necessitate alternative arrangements like home confinement in his Trump Tower penthouse.
In the 2024 presidential election, Republican candidate Trump faces accusations of falsifying business records to hide a $130,000 payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about an alleged sexual encounter she had with him in 2006.
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Trump has entered a not-guilty plea and denied having any sexual relations with Daniels, whose actual name is Stephanie Clifford.
Banker Garry Farro, who is not alleged to have committed any illegal acts, testified on Tuesday that Cohen utilized a shell company to transfer a $130,000 payment to Daniels’ attorney.
Roughly two dozen Trump supporters rallied outside the courthouse on Tuesday morning, chanting his name and waving banners that read “TRUMP 24.” A local Republican organization had called for supporters to turn out after Trump complained that few people were protesting the trial.
Trump must be present at the trial, although he mentioned that he could be focusing on campaigning for his potential rematch against Democratic President Joe Biden for the November 5 election.
Trump faces four ongoing criminal cases, but this could be the only one that might proceed to trial and conclude with a verdict before the election.
Judge Slaps Trump with Ksh.1.2M Fine, Threatens Jail in Hush Money Case