Trump could face further gag order sanctions amid hush money trial
2 May 2024, 14:54
The former US president was fined 9,000 dollars for contempt of court earlier this week.
Former US president Donald Trump could face more sanctions over another round of potential gag order violations when witness testimony in his hush money trial resumes.
Judge Juan M Merchan will hold a hearing in New York City over four more online posts that prosecutors say violate the court’s mandate barring the former president from speaking publicly about jurors or key witnesses in the case.
Judge Merchan already found Trump in contempt of court on Tuesday, fining him 9,000 dollars (£7,200) over nine online posts and threatening him with jail time if he continues violating the gag order.
It is unclear when Judge Merchan might rule on the new sanctions request. The trial is in its 10th day.
Keith Davidson is expected to return to the stand after dominating Tuesday’s witness testimony, outlining how he negotiated hush money deals with the National Enquirer and Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, on behalf of former Playboy model Karen McDougal and porn actor Stormy Daniels.
Prosecutors have said that Trump and others conducted a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election by purchasing and burying salacious stories that might hurt his campaign.
Trump is accused of falsifying internal business records to cover up hush money payments — including 130,000 dollars given to Ms Daniels by Mr Cohen – recording them instead as legal expenses.
He has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.
The case is the first-ever criminal trial of a former US president and the first of four prosecutions of Trump – the presumptive Republican presidential nominee – to reach a jury.
