Judge Juan Merchan ruled on Tuesday that Donald Trump had violated an order barring him from criticizing witnesses and others involved in the case nine times, fining him a total of $9,000.
The magistrate said the fine may not be enough of a deterrent for the businessman-turned-politician and lamented that he did not have the authority to impose a higher penalty.
“The defendant is hereby warned that the court will not tolerate willful violations of its legal orders and that, if necessary and appropriate under the circumstances, it will impose a term of imprisonment,” Magistrate Merchan’s decision reads.
Merchan imposed the restraining order to prevent Trump from criticizing witnesses and others involved in the case. Merchan will consider whether to impose further fines for further statements at a hearing on Thursday.
Judge Merchan’s decision came before the resumption of hearings on the merits in the criminal case targeting Trump. The New York trial resumed with testimony from a banker familiar with accounts involved in Trump’s alleged plan to influence the 2016 election by covering up a sex scandal.
2024 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is accused of falsifying business records to hide a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence about a sexual relationship she had said she had an affair with Trump in 2006. Trump has pleaded not guilty and denied having sex with Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.
The historic criminal trial is the first involving a former US president and began on April 22.
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Tags: Donald Trump Fined Dollars Threatened Prison Contempt Justice File
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