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Judge threatens jail for Trump as he violates gag order in hush money trial, marking his 10th contempt charge. Trial enters 12th day.
In a pivotal moment during Donald Trump's ongoing hush money trial, Justice Juan Merchan announced on Monday his intention to hold the former president in contempt of court for the tenth time due to violations of a gag order. Merchan's statement also included a warning that he would consider imposing jail time on Trump for further violations.
The gag order prohibits Trump from making public comments that could interfere with the trial, particularly regarding jurors, witnesses, and the families of the judge and prosecutors. Despite previous fines totalling $9,000 for nine social media posts that violated the order, Trump's defiance persists.
Merchan expressed reluctance about resorting to jail time, emphasizing that it would be a last resort and one he hoped to avoid. However, he characterized Trump's repeated and willful violations as a direct challenge to the rule of law.
During the court session, Merchan addressed Trump directly, stating, "I do not want to impose a jail sanction and have done everything I can to avoid doing so. But I will if necessary." He stressed that such measures were necessary due to the gravity of Trump's actions.
Merchan outlined several reasons for his hesitation to use jail time, including concerns about disrupting the trial, the political ramifications of imprisoning a prominent presidential candidate, and the logistical challenges of detaining an ex-president with a lifetime Secret Service detail.
The trial, which marks the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president, has entered its 12th day. Testimony has included accounts from a top aide and a former tabloid publisher regarding efforts during Trump's initial presidential campaign to suppress stories of alleged sexual misconduct.
At the centre of the trial are charged against Trump for allegedly falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, who claims to have had an affair with him in 2006. Trump maintains his innocence, denying both the affair and any wrongdoing related to the payment.
Throughout the trial, Trump has voiced frustration, lamenting that it has confined him to the courtroom when he should be engaging with voters as he pursues a return to the White House. Despite this, Merchan's firm stance indicates that Trump's actions will have serious consequences, potentially including imprisonment, if he continues to flout the court's orders.
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