Donald Trump Faces $9,000 Fine in Hush Money Case for Breaking Silence

In the most recent development in the hush money case, CNN reported that former US President Donald Trump was fined USD 9,000 and found in contempt of court on Tuesday for repeatedly disobeying a gag order that prevented him from speaking publicly about jurors, witnesses, and other parties involved in his New York hush money case.

According to the article, Donald Trump was fined by Judge Juan Merchan for breaking the gag order nine times in a row by disparaging anticipated trial witnesses in postings on his campaign website and social media. The court mandates that Trump pay the USD 9,000 fee before the end of the week.

Furthermore, at 2:15 p.m. (local time), the court ordered that Trump take down the two “offending posts” from his campaign website and the seven “offending posts” from Truth Social, according to CNN.

Additionally, Merchan warned to “impose an incarceration punishment if necessary and appropriate under the circumstances, and that the Court will not tolerate continued willful violations of its lawful orders.” Trump remained silent in response to Merchan’s ruling.

Prosecutors said that Merchan had held Trump in contempt for violating the gag order, citing ten postings on social media that were made both before and during the trial, according to CNN.

These postings reportedly went beyond the judge’s orders, which forbade Trump from making remarks against jurors and witnesses. Prosecutors also requested that the postings be taken down.

The prosecution emphasized Trump’s statements concerning Stormy Daniels, Michael Cohen, and the composition of the jury.

The decision was issued by the court after a tense hearing last week that included arguments between him and Todd Blanche, Trump’s defense lawyer.

The prosecutors also cited four remarks made by Trump during the hearing last week, including ones about Cohen and David Pecker, the former head of AMI, who gave testimony the previous week. To answer such remarks, Merchan has set a second hearing for this Thursday. New York State law allows a maximum of $1,000 per infraction.

According to The Hill, Trump is charged with fabricating company documents pertaining to a hush-money agreement he struck with an adult film actress before the 2016 election. He entered a not-guilty plea.