Former President Donald Trump was found in contempt of court and was fined $1,000 for breaking a gag order meant to safeguard witnesses and jurors in his Manhattan criminal trial.
During the court proceedings, New York Judge Juan Merchan sternly cautioned Trump that further violations could result in imprisonment, a severe penalty rarely imposed on a former president and potential GOP candidate.
Merchan said that the maximum $1,000 per violation penalty is “not serving as a deterrent,” leaving him to consider jail time as a sanction. He noted that “to take that step would be disruptive to these proceedings.”
Merchan expressed concern for the court officers, Secret Service, and other necessary personnel for the task, emphasizing that despite the challenges, he is committed to fulfilling his duties.
Trump, accompanied by his son Eric Trump, sat at the bench with his arms folded as the judge issued the order.
“Because this is now the 10th time that this Court has found Defendant in criminal contempt, spanning three separate motions, it is apparent that monetary fines have not and will not, suffice to deter Defendant from violating this Court’s lawful orders,” Merchan said in his written order.
Merchan only fined Trump for one of four alleged violations brought by the prosecution — for a statement claiming the jury is “95% democrats.”
Prosecutors requested a $4,000 fine for Trump last week, with $1,000 for each of the four statements he made in violation of the court order.
They also asked for Trump to be found in contempt of court for a second time.
Merchan presided over a hearing on May 2 to consider the arguments presented regarding the violation.
During the trial, prosecutors highlighted Trump’s comments across various media platforms, such as podcasts, local interviews, and media appearances.
One specific instance mentioned was Trump’s description of National Enquirer David Pecker’s testimony as “nice,” which the prosecution argued could intimidate potential witnesses by indicating that the former president is closely monitoring and willing to provide feedback.
Regarding Trump’s statement that “95% of the jurors are all democrats,” prosecutors contended that it created a threatening atmosphere.
The other two accusations involved remarks about former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, who is expected to testify in the future.
In the previous week, Trump was instructed to pay a $9,000 fine and delete seven posts from his Truth Social account, as well as two posts from his campaign website that were deemed to violate the gag order.
Merchan cautioned in the ruling that the court will not tolerate deliberate violations of its orders and may resort to punitive measures, including imprisonment, if necessary and appropriate. This served as a reminder to Trump that jail time is a potential consequence of his actions.