Prosecutors asked Justice Juan Merchan to fine Trump 10,000 for violating the order. Defense lawyer Todd Blanche argued that Trump should not be punished for responding to political attacks. Merchan said he would not immediately rule on the prosecution’s request.
At a hearing to consider the issue, Merchan appeared to grow frustrated after Blanche did not provide specific examples of the attacks to which Trump was said to be responding. The judge said Blanche had neither case law nor evidence to back up his argument.
After the session, Trump quickly went on social media to repeat his claim that the gag order violated his constitutional free speech rights.
The judge’s gag order prevents Trump from publicly criticizing witnesses, court officials and their relatives.
New York prosecutor Christopher Conroy said Trump has run afoul of the order with Truth Social posts, pointing to an April 10 post that called porn star Stormy Daniels and his former lawyer Michael Cohen /”sleazebags./” Both are expected to testify in the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president.
Conroy said other posts led to media coverage that prompted a juror last week to withdraw over privacy concerns.
The 10,000 fine sought by Conroy would be a relatively small penalty for Trump, who has posted 266.6 million in bonds as he appeals civil judgments in two other cases.
Conroy said he was not at this point asking Merchan to send Trump to jail for up to 30 days, as New York law allows.
Trump was charged by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg with falsifying business records to cover up a 130,000 payment shortly before the 2016 U.S. election to buy the silence of Daniels about a sexual encounter she has said they had in 2006. Trump has pleaded not guilty and denies such an encounter took place. (REUTERS)
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