By Raul Castillo
02 May 2024, 16:26 PM EDT
The Prosecutor’s Office in the criminal trial against former President Donald Trump in New York requested this Thursday an additional fine of at least $4,000 for contempt of the “gag order,” which prohibits him from making public comments that attack witnesses, prosecutors and jurors. .
This request is in addition to the $9,000 fine imposed last Tuesday, when Judge Juan M. Merchán determined that Trump had repeatedly violated the order by making statements on his social network, Truth Social, and on his campaign website, where he denigrated the trial witnesses, the EFE agency reported.
The Prosecutor’s Office presented to the judge four pieces of evidence of the alleged violations of the ‘gag order’ and said that it is seeking a maximum fine of $1,000 for each one, but that at the moment it is not seeking a prison sentence for Trump.
One of the statements that prompted the request for an additional fine was when Trump suggested that the jury, selected in a week, might not be impartial due to the Democratic majority in New York City.
He also made disparaging comments about David Pecker, former editor of The National Enquirer and the first witness called in the trial, whom he called “good people” for his kind testimony, and about Michael Cohen, his former lawyer, whom he called a “liar.” without credibility, reported the EFE agency.
Trump’s legal team argued that he has the right to defend himself against the attacks and answer what they ask him, especially in the face of Cohen’s accusations on social media. Additionally, they requested that Cohen not be included in the “gag order.”
Waiting for the decision
Judge Merchán did not make an immediate decision after hearing both sides, but he is expected to do so soon.
Trump, who is campaigning for this year’s presidential election, expressed frustration at having to attend the trial, calling it a “ridiculous show trial.”
While visiting Michigan and Wisconsin to campaign, he insisted that “they have no case” against him and wished he could campaign without the distraction of the trial.
This trial is in its third week and addresses the case of falsifying business records related to a sexual relationship with porn actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 campaign. Daniels’ former attorney, Keith Davidson, will testify for a second day, stating that He understood that Trump was behind the agreement to silence his client, negotiated in 2016 by Cohen.
With information from EFE.
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• Trump fined $9,000 for nine gag order violations in hush money trial