In a legal battle that continues to captivate the nation, former President Donald Trump has been hit with a $5,000 fine by a New York state judge on Friday. This penalty comes as a result of Trump’s failure to promptly remove a derogatory post about the judge’s law clerk, Allison Greenfield, from his campaign website. The judge’s gag order was allegedly violated when this post remained visible for a staggering 17 days after an initial removal order was issued on October 3.
Judge Demands Explanation
During a fiery morning session, Justice Arthur F. Engoron lashed out at Trump, labeling the post’s prolonged existence a “blatant violation of the gag order.” The judge even contemplated more severe consequences, such as fines or the possibility of imprisonment, if Trump did not comply. The former President eventually took down the post on Truth Social but failed to remove an identical version from his campaign website until the judge’s recent notification.
Trump $5K Fine For Violating Gag Order : Nominal Fine Imposed
In a written decision following the hearing, the judge maintained that the violation, while serious, was a first-time offense and possibly inadvertent. Consequently, a nominal fine of $5,000 was imposed, with the funds payable to the New York Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection within ten days of the order’s issuance. However, Justice Engoron was quick to emphasize the stakes involved, warning that further violations, whether deliberate or unintentional, would lead to more severe sanctions, including heavier financial penalties and even the potential for Trump to be held in contempt of court or imprisoned.
Verbal Warning Not Enough
The judge reasoned that a mere verbal warning was no longer sufficient, asserting that Trump had already received ample caution regarding the consequences of violating the gag order. The judge emphasized, “This Court is way beyond the ‘warning’ stage.”
Trump $5K Fine For Violating Gag Order : Violation Confirmed
Earlier on the same day, Justice Engoron unequivocally declared that Trump had indeed violated the gag order, stating, “Last night I learned that the subject offending post was never removed from the website donaldjtrump.com and, in fact, had been on that website for the past 17 days.”
Trump’s Attorney Offers Explanation
During the hearing, Trump’s attorney, Chris Kise, was given the opportunity to explain why the post had remained on the campaign website. Kise argued that the post had been automatically reposted from Truth Social and that the failure to remove it was entirely “inadvertent.” He also mentioned that the campaign website had a massive viewership of 114 million but the specific page with the contentious post had only garnered 3,701 unique views. Kise contended that this was all part of an automated process, with no intention to evade or circumvent the judge’s order, emphasizing the vast scale of the campaign operation.
Trump’s Responsibility
In response, Justice Engoron stressed that Trump bore responsibility for the actions of his campaign, regardless of its size. He asserted, “Donald Trump is still responsible for the large machine, even if it’s a large machine.”
Trump $5K Fine For Violating Gag Order Ongoing Legal Battle
This latest development transpired within the context of an ongoing legal battle where New York Attorney General Letitia James has accused Trump of a decade-long fraud scheme, alleging that he inflated his wealth to secure favorable loans and insurance terms. James aims to shut down Trump’s businesses and reclaim an estimated $250 million in gains allegedly obtained through deceptive practices.
Appeals Court Involvement
The judge, who has already found Trump and his associates liable for a “persistent fraud” based on evidence submitted prior to the bench trial, will ultimately decide if Trump violated criminal laws related to conspiracy, falsifying business records, and insurance fraud. He will also determine whether financial penalties or eviction from New York’s business landscape are appropriate. An appeals court has temporarily paused Justice Engoron’s moves to dissolve Trump’s companies during this process.
Strong Denials from Trump and Defendants
Both Trump and the defendants have vehemently denied the allegations, maintaining their innocence throughout the proceedings.
