Trump Faces Contempt Hearing Over Gag Order Violations in Hush Money Trial
Donald Trump is set to attend a contempt of court hearing on Tuesday as part of his unprecedented criminal trial. New York prosecutors argue that the former president repeatedly breached the gag order designed to stop him from intimidating witnesses.
The hearing follows the day after the jury listened to opening statements in Trump’s hush money trial. During these statements, the prosecutors accused him of being involved in a criminal conspiracy, while his defense team argued that he was “presumed innocent.”
The case focuses on accusations of business fraud related to events preceding Trump’s 2016 presidential election win. It is the first criminal trial involving a former US president, and it is already affecting Trump’s White House campaign for November, as he cannot leave the court to focus on his campaign.
The contempt hearing on Tuesday will center on comments made by the Republican regarding witnesses Michael Cohen, his former lawyer, and Stormy Daniels, an adult film actress.
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The former president is alleged to have manipulated business records in collaboration with Cohen to purchase Daniels’ silence regarding a supposed 2006 sexual encounter that could have harmed his presidential campaign.
Judge Juan Merchan has placed a partial gag order on Trump, restricting him from making public comments targeting witnesses, prosecutors, and court staff’s relatives.
But that didn’t stop him from posting on his social media site about Cohen and Daniels, whom he called “two sleaze bags who have, with their lies and misrepresentations, cost our country dearly.”
Trump has also commented on the jury, leading the prosecution to amend their original complaint regarding the violation of the gag order.
Cited in the supplemental complaint is another Truth Social post, where Trump quoted Fox News commentator Jesse Watters as alleging that “undercover liberal activists (are) lying to the judge to get on the Trump jury.”
Trump’s legal team argues that the gag order infringes on his right to free speech, while the prosecution is concerned that his remarks may lead to harassment of individuals associated with the case.
Jury intimidation concerns
Merchan has already reprimanded Trump in person for speaking loudly enough to be heard by potential jurors and making exaggerated gestures.
“I will not have any jurors intimidated in this courtroom,” Merchan said.
The jurors will stay anonymous to the public throughout the trial, but one withdrew before the trial started due to concerns about possible exposure of personal information during the jury selection process.
A decision that Trump is in contempt of court could result in the former president being imprisoned, leading to a possible clash with the Secret Service, the federal agency responsible for safeguarding Trump and all living presidents.
Even if a fine is a much more likely punishment, Trump has said it would be a “great honor” to be jailed.
On Monday, attorneys for both parties presented their opening statements in the trial, with prosecutors accusing Trump of participating in a complex scheme involving fraud and concealment.
“It was election fraud, pure and simple,” Assistant District Attorney Matthew Colangelo told the jury.
Trump’s attorney Todd Blanche countered that “President Trump did not commit any crimes.”
The prosecution’s first witness was David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer.
His tabloid allegedly bought the rights to another story regarding Trump’s infidelity ahead of the election but never ran it, with prosecutors alleging he used a “catch-and-kill” policy to aid Trump.
He’s due to go back on the stand Tuesday at 11:00 am (1500 GMT), after the contempt hearing.
Trump Faces Contempt Hearing Over Gag Order Violations in Hush Money Trial