{"id":2233853,"date":"2024-04-30T16:35:03","date_gmt":"2024-04-30T20:35:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-threatens-trump-with-jail-time-hits-him-with-massive-fine-in-hush-money-trial\/"},"modified":"2024-04-30T16:37:11","modified_gmt":"2024-04-30T20:37:11","slug":"judge-threatens-trump-with-jail-time-hits-him-with-massive-fine-in-hush-money-trial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-threatens-trump-with-jail-time-hits-him-with-massive-fine-in-hush-money-trial\/","title":{"rendered":"Judge warns Trump of imprisonment and imposes hefty penalty in silence money case"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjudge-threatens-trump-with-jail-time-hits-him-with-massive-fine-in-hush-money-trial%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2233853&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Former President Trump was\u200b found in contempt of court by Judge \u200bMerchant for \u2064breaching the gag order in his &#8220;hush money&#8221; \u2064trial. The judge identified nine of Trump&#8217;s posts \u200ddiscussing witnesses, resulting in\u200d a\u200b fine of $1,000 per\u200c post.\u2063 Additionally, Judge Merchant warned of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lets-focus-on-real-criminals-desantis-pardons-covid-19-state-penalties\/\" title=\"\u2018Let\u2019s Focus On Real Criminals\u2019: DeSantis Pardons COVID-19 State Penalties\">potential jail time<\/a> for further violations. Trump was directed\u2062 to remove specific posts by a set deadline. The hearing continues on additional alleged violations.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<header> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/news\/\">  News <\/a>   <span> <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/russdavis\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<p> <span>   By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/russdavis\/%20\"><span>Jack Davis<\/span><\/a> <\/span> <span>   April 30, 2024 at 11:11am <\/span> <\/span>  <\/header>\n<section>\n<p>Former President Donald Trump was found in contempt of court Tuesday after Judge Juan Merchant said Trump violated the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/daily-feed-10-3-23\/\" title=\"Daily Feed 10\/3\/23: Latest news\">gag order imposed<\/a> on him in his \u201chush money\u201d trial.<\/p>\n<p>Judge Juan Merchan said nine of Trump\u2019s posts violated the ban on discussing witnesses, potential witnesses or jurors and fined Trump $1,000 for each post, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/donald-trump\/judge-holds-trump-contempt-violating-gag-order-hush-money-trial-rcna149101\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NBC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In a written order, Merchan said Trump \u201cviolated the Order by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mandela-barnes-god-country-and-guns-rhetoric-as-dangerous-as-isis-terrorists\/\" title=\"Mandela Barnes: \u2018God, Country, and Guns\u2019 Rhetoric as Dangerous as ISIS Terrorists\">making social media posts<\/a> about known witnesses pertaining to their participation in this criminal proceeding and by making public statements about jurors in this criminal proceeding,\u201d according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/trump-trial-contempt-gag-order-new-york-judge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CBS<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Merchan bemoaned the fact that state law does not allow <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/trump-takes-commanding-lead-biden-even-cnn-poll-shows-45-holds-major-advantage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">for a fine<\/a> higher than $1,000 saying the punishment \u201cunfortunately will not achieve the desired result in those instances where the [defendant] can easily afford such a fine.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He said, since a higher fine is out of the question, he \u201cmust therefore consider whether in some instances, jail may be a necessary punishment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDefendant is hereby warned that the Court will not tolerate continued willful violations of its lawful orders and that if necessary and appropriate under the circumstances, it will impose an incarceratory punishment,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/trump-weighs-pro-hamas-rallies-4-word-solution-change-everything\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Trump<\/a> was ordered to take down seven Truth Social posts and two posts from his<a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/ceo-trumps-truth-social-alleges-unlawful-manipulation-stock-price-demands-congressional-investigation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> campaign<\/a> website by 2:15 p.m. Tuesday, according to NBC.<\/p>\n<p>The only bright side for Trump was that Merchan said he would consider exempting Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels given statements they are making or expected to make outside of court.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutor Chris Conroy has said Trump\u00a0\u201cseems to be angling\u201d to be locked up as part of his campaign.<\/p>\n<div id=\"firefly-poll-container\">\n<p>Do these posts violate his gag order?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Trump\u2019s legal team has said Trump is responding to attacks.<\/p>\n<p>Although Trump\u2019s legal team had said in some cases Trump was only reposting the comments of others, Merchan said it made no difference.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA repost, whether with or without commentary by the Defendant, is in fact a statement of the Defendant,\u201d Merchan said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe issue of \u2018reposting\u2019 appears to be a question of first impression,\u201d Merchan wrote.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLacking legal authority to guide its decision, this Court must, as defense counsel stated at the hearing, rely on common sense \u2026 Defendant curated the posts at issue and then took the necessary steps to publish the posts on his Truth Social account and on his campaign website,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn doing so, he endorsed the posts with one purpose in mind \u2014 to maximize viewership and to communicate his stamp of approval.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The issue is not dead.<\/p>\n<p>Another hearing is scheduled for Thursday on four more posts the prosecution said violated the gag order, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/04\/30\/nyregion\/merchan-trump-contempt-gag-order.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The New York Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div>\n<p><b><i>An Important Message from Our Staff:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We who work here at The Western Journal have fought for years against Big Tech and the elites who want to shut us down and then shut America down. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Make no mistake \u2014 nothing will be the same after November 2024. Will you help us fight? Will you <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>help us expose the America-hating elites<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  who will do everything they can to steal this election? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We\u2019re a small group of people fighting to save the country for our readers and for our own family and friends. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Can we count on your help?<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<p><i><span>At this point, Big Tech has cut off our access to 90% of advertisers. Imagine if someone took 90% of your paycheck and there was nothing you could do. They\u2019re trying to starve us out.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Donations from readers like you have literally helped keep our lights on, and <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>we need you<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  now more than ever. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We operate on a shoestring budget, but with that budget, we terrify the globalists. Please help us continue the fight. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Stand with us<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>, and we will never surrender.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Thank you for reading The Western Journal and for believing in America. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>It is a pleasure to serve you.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>P.S. Please don\u2019t let the America-hating left win. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Stand with us today<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"author-info-44685\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/russdavis\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<div>\n<p><label for=\"summary-tab-radio-44685\">Summary<\/label><label for=\"more-info-tab-radio-44685\">More<span> Biographical Information<\/span><\/label><label for=\"posts-tab-radio-44685\">Recent<span> Posts<\/span><\/label><label for=\"contact-tab-radio-44685\" onclick=\"if( typeof grecaptcha=='undefined' ) { let cap_s=document.createElement( 'script' ); cap_s.src='https:\/\/www.google.com\/recaptcha\/api.js?render=6LeJFcsUAAAAAPsIEqvB1EebWbZfqRUe6ebMpGy7'; document.body.appendChild( cap_s ); }\">Contact<\/label><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Jack Davis is a freelance writer who joined The Western Journal in July 2015 and chronicled the campaign that saw President Donald Trump elected. Since then, he has written extensively for The Western Journal on the Trump administration as well as foreign policy and military issues.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>  Jack Davis is a freelance writer who joined The Western Journal in July 2015 and chronicled the campaign that saw President Donald Trump elected. Since then, he has written extensively for The Western Journal on the Trump administration as well as foreign policy and military issues. <br \/> Jack can be reached at jackwritings1@gmail.com. <\/p>\n<p>  Location <\/p>\n<p>  New York City <\/p>\n<p>  Languages Spoken <\/p>\n<p>  English <\/p>\n<p>  Topics of Expertise <\/p>\n<p>  Politics, Foreign Policy, Military &#038; Defense Issues <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Former President Trump found in contempt of court by Judge Merchant for violating gag order in &#8220;hush money&#8221; trial. Judge Merchan cited nine posts by Trump discussing witnesses, leading to the contempt ruling<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":661,"featured_media":2233854,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Donald-Trump-17.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2233853","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Donald-Trump-17.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2233853","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/661"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2233853"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2233853\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2233854"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2233853"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2233853"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2233853"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}