A New York judge held former President Trump in criminal contempt for a second time and fined him $1,000 for violating a gag order in his business records trial.
The judge warned that future violations could result in jail time, saying Trump’s comments directly attacked the rule of law.
“This court will have to consider a jail sanction,” Merchan stated. “At the end of the day, I have a job to do. Part of that job is to protect the dignity of the justice system.”
The violation is a “direct attack on the rule of law. I cannot allow that to continue,” he added.
Prosecutors alleged four violations involving comments about witnesses.
While Trump called it a “political hoax” and “election interference,” the judge said protecting court dignity was important.
“It’s a political hoax,” Trump said. “It’s election interference … This is a ridiculous situation. Not fair. Not fair, but we will fight.”
Polls show most Americans see the trial as irrelevant to Trump’s fitness and doubt it will conclude with a fair outcome, though only a third believe Trump did anything illegal in the case.
The gag order prevents witness-related comments intended to interfere with the case.
