Judge Juan Merchan ruled that Donald Trump has violated a gag order in his criminal case yet again — for the tenth time. The judge said he’s imposing the maximum $1,000 fine on the defendant but noted that such penalties aren’t deterring Trump, so jail may be next for the former president and presumptive GOP nominee’s next violation.
Merchan previously found Trump in contempt on nine violations in an April 30 ruling. This latest decision on Monday, as trial testimony continues, stems from separate alleged violations regarding statements about key witnesses Michael Cohen and David Pecker, as well as about the jury. Merchan found Trump in contempt for one of the alleged violations regarding the jury statement.
Merchan noted in his previous ruling that the $1,000 fine per violation — the maximum fine allowed by law — was relatively low. But he warned in that ruling that jail may be next for the former president. At the May 2 hearing, the prosecution said it wasn’t seeking jail yet so as not to disrupt the proceedings.
Given that the prosecution wasn’t seeking jail and the violation at issue came before Merchan’s jail-warning ruling on April 30, Merchan only imposed the fine this time as well. I predicted this anticlimactic outcome for the timing reason that Merchan noted. But the result of this latest ruling more firmly sets up the question of what Merchan will do if Trump violates the gag order once again.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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