In a dramatic turn of events, a New York state judge declared Donald Trump in contempt of court on Tuesday. The former president faced sanctions for his repeated violations of a gag order amid his ongoing criminal hush money case. Specifically, Trump was fined $9,000—$1,000 for each instance where he publicly maligned potential witnesses, including his one-time attorney Michael Cohen.
Justice Juan Merchan of the New York Supreme Court made it clear that Trump’s behavior was not tolerable, emphasizing that further willful disobedience would lead to more severe consequences, potentially including jail time. The court’s stern warning highlights the gravity of Trump’s disregard for judicial directives.
Trump held in contempt for in New York Trial : Background of the Contempt Charge
The charges stem from Trump’s alleged attempts to influence the jury’s perception through targeted attacks on social media platforms like Truth Social. These posts, according to prosecutors, were direct violations of the court’s order which prohibits any denigration of witnesses, prosecutors, jurors, and related court staff or their families.
