Judge delays ruling on whether Trump’s ‘reposts’ breached gag order
Judge Juan Merchan in New York postponed the decision on potentially fining Donald Trump for violating a gag order in his hush money trial. Manhattan prosecutors claim Trump breached the order multiple times, seeking significant penalties. The defense argued that many infringements were mere reposts of news articles on social media, emphasizing the distinction. In New York, Judge Juan Merchan delayed the ruling on potentially penalizing Donald Trump for breaching a gag order in his hush money trial. Manhattan prosecutors allege multiple violations by Trump, pushing for substantial penalties. The defense countered, highlighting that many alleged breaches were simply reposts of news content on social platforms.
NEW YORK — Judge Juan Merchan on Tuesday said he would “reserve” his decision on whether to fine Donald Trump over alleged gag order violations in the former president’s hush money trial.
Manhattan prosecutors said Trump had violated the gag order in the hush money case more than 10 times, arguing that his violations amount to a “very real threat” that should result in at least $10,000 in fees. Much of the defense’s rebuttal Tuesday morning focused on the fact that many of the Trump posts in question were merely “reposts” of news articles on social media.
“Judge, each of the 10 posts that I just handed the court” violate the gag order, prosecutor Chris Conroy said. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, the elected Democrat who brought the 34-count indictment against Trump, says the former president should be fined $1,000 for each violation.
Defense attorney Todd Blanche conceded that some of Trump’s reposts got “too close to the line” but were ultimately not a violation of the order. But Merchan said if that were true, Trump’s team should have told the judge that “my client is thinking of reposting something.”
After Blanche sat back down, he appeared to pass a note to Trump.
Conroy also argued to the court Tuesday that Trump had violated the gag order Monday “right here in the hallway outside” the courthouse after opening arguments began in the case.
“The defendant has violated this order repeatedly and hasn’t stopped,” Conroy added.
Blanche countered Conroy’s argument, saying “There was absolutely no willful violation of the gag order.”
“President Trump does, in fact, know what the gag order allows him to do and not allow him to do,” Blanche said.
Merchan placed the gag order on Trump because he said the former president has a history of making “threatening, inflammatory, denigrating” comments against people at all levels of the justice system, including jurors.
The order prevents Trump from making statements about attorneys, court staff members, or family members of prosecutors, lawyers, court staff members, and the Manhattan district attorney.
Jurors were not in the courtroom for the gag order arguments and will return later Tuesday to hear more testimony from witnesses David Pecker, an ex-publisher of the National Enquirer, who allegedly helped broker a deal with porn star Stormy Daniels, which is at the core of the case.
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Trump faces four separate criminal cases as he runs again for the presidency. He is the first former president to go on criminal trial.
Witness testimony is slated to begin again at 11 a.m. Tuesday after jurors enter the room.
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