A New York judge has ruled that former President Donald Trump violated a gag order during his criminal trial and has held him in criminal contempt. The judge, Juan Merchan, issued a warning to Trump and threatened him with jail time for any further infractions.
The ruling came after Trump had been charged with 34 felonies in the criminal case concerning alleged election interference and a legal retainer paid to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen. This is the first-ever criminal trial of a president of the United States, and if convicted, Trump could face jail time.
Judge Merchan also ordered Trump to remove seven posts from his Truth Social account and two posts from his campaign website, as they were deemed to be in violation of the gag order. The judge gave Trump until April 30, 2024, to remove the posts and imposed a $1,000 fine for each of the nine violations of the order.
The gag order, which was put in place by the judge, prevents Trump from making public comments about witnesses participating in the trial, counsel other than the Democrat Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, court staff, and the District Attorney's staff. It also includes any statements made with intent to interfere with the work of the counsel and staff, as well as prospective jurors.
Trump has been vocal in his opposition to the gag order, stating that it prevents him from speaking the truth while his opponents are allowed to say whatever they want. He also questioned why he was being gagged for telling the truth while others were able to continue making up lies about him.
Despite the judge's ruling, Trump's legal team has argued that the gag order is unconstitutional and goes against his freedom of speech. They have also accused Judge Merchan of being biased against Trump.
The judge's decision has received widespread attention, with many Americans expressing doubts about the fairness of the trial. A recent CNN poll found that a majority of Americans do not believe the trial will have a fair outcome. Additionally, an AP-NORC poll found that only about one-third of American adults believe Trump did anything illegal regarding the case.
Meanwhile, Trump has called the trial a hoax and a witch hunt. He has also accused the Manhattan District Attorney of being politically motivated in bringing the charges against him. His team has vowed to continue fighting the charges and has stated that they have a strong case for acquittal.
The case, New York v. Trump, has brought forth a larger debate about the role of a former president in the legal system. Some argue that Trump should be held accountable for his actions while president, while others believe that a former president is immune from prosecution.
Judge Merchan's ruling has added yet another layer of complexity to this already contentious case. With Trump's trial scheduled to continue in the coming months, all eyes will be on the New York Supreme Court as the legal battle between the former president and the justice system continues.