The judge overseeing the criminal cover-up trial against Donald Trump imposed a $9,000 fine on Tuesday on the former president of the United States for online publications that, in his opinion, violated a gag order in the case.
Judge Juan Merchán’s order came as the trial resumed in New York with testimony from a banker familiar with the accounts involved in Trump’s alleged scheme to influence the 2016 election by covering up a sex scandal.
The fine was just shy of the $10,000 penalty prosecutors had requested for 10 publications that insulted potential witnesses and questioned the jury’s impartiality.
Merchán will study whether to impose more fines for other statements at a hearing on Thursday. He also ordered Trump to remove the statements from his Truth Social account and his campaign website.
Trump could face prison sentences for violating the gag order, which Merchán imposed to prevent him from criticizing witnesses and others involved in the case.
The Republican candidate for the 2024 presidential election is accused of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence about a sexual encounter she said she had with Trump in 2006.
The former president has pleaded innocent and has denied having had sexual relations with Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.
The historic criminal trial is the first of a former US president and began on April 22.
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– 2024-05-05 11:00:33
