Judge Fines Trump for Contempt During His Criminal Hush Money Trial
NEW YORK — A New York judge fined former President Donald Trump $9,000 Tuesday for violating a gag order but warned him jail is the next step if his public criticisms of persons involved in his criminal trial continue.
Trump has called a key prosecution witness a “liar” for his statements implicating the former president in falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to women with whom he allegedly had sexual affairs.
He called the judge presiding over his case “totally conflicted and corrupt.” He said the jurors were liberal Democrats in his posts on Truth Social.
Judge Juan Merchan cited nine social media posts he said violated the order he imposed in March against Trump for his public criticisms. The judge said they could intimidate witnesses or jurors, perhaps resulting in a trial that reflects their fear of reprisal.
He warned in his written ruling Tuesday that “if necessary and appropriate under the circumstances” for further violations of the gag order, he would impose “an incarceratory punishment” on Trump.
The judge ordered Trump to delete the offending social media posts by 2:15 p.m. Tuesday. He complied with the order.
The fine and warning came at the beginning of the fifth day of testimony in Trump’s trial on 34 counts related to falsifying business records. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The most damaging testimony against Trump Tuesday came from Keith Davidson, an attorney who said he represented former Playboy model Karen McDougal in an effort to sell her story of a 10-month affair with Trump to the supermarket tabloid the National Enquirer.
The National Enquirer’s publisher earlier testified that his company tried to help Trump’s presidential campaign by buying the exclusive publication rights to embarrassing stories but not publishing them.
Interest in buying McDougal’s silence increased after the October 2016 “Access Hollywood” tape, in which Trump appeared to boast about assaulting women while he secretly was being recorded speaking with a host of the television show, Davidson said. Trump’s ratings in popular opinion polls fell after the recording was replayed in the media.
Davidson also had represented former adult film actress Stormy Daniels, another Trump accuser who said she had a sexual affair with him before his 2016 run for president.
McDougal says Trump paid her $150,000 not to tell anyone about their affair. Daniels says she was paid $130,000 in hush money. Trump denies relationships with both women.
Prosecutors say Trump hid the payments by falsely listing them as “legal fees” that he paid in checks to his former attorney, Michael Cohen. Cohen says he delivered the checks.
Davidson was the first witness to give behind-the-scenes details of how the alleged hush money deal developed.
He described Cohen as overly aggressive and contentious in trying to close the deal just before the 2016 election. Their discussions were marked by a “hostile barrage” of “insults,” “insinuations” and “allegations” from Cohen, Davidson said.
At one point in the negotiations, Cohen asked for more time before arranging the payments, saying “my guy” was traveling and unavailable to approve the payments, Davidson said.
He added that he assumed the reference to “my guy” referred to Trump.
Prosecutors showed jurors text messages that appeared to discuss the payments for McDougal and Daniels.
Before entering the courtroom for the last few minutes of the trial Tuesday, Trump spoke with the media. He described his prosecution as “unconstitutional” and politically motivated by Democrats loyal to President Joe Biden.
“They have me sitting here for a Biden trial,” Trump said.
He added, “They don’t want me on the campaign trail.”
He referred to Merchan when he said, “He’s a corrupt judge.”
Trump left the courthouse in a motorcade to Trump Tower shortly before 5 p.m.
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