(TheProudRepublic.com) – The leftist judicial repression of Donald Trump is becoming more threatening as the presiding judge in the so-called hush-money trial issued a stern rebuke for the former president’s allegedly tenth violation of the court’s gag order, and threatened that he would be thrown in jail.
On Monday, Judge Juan Merchan imposed a $1,000 penalty on Trump for the most recent offense.
This fine is additional to a previously levied $9,000 fine after Trump disparaged jurors and key witnesses, including his former attorney Michael Cohen, via posts on his Truth Social platform and his campaign’s website.
This latest infraction involved remarks made about David Pecker of the National Enquirer, who had earlier provided testimony in the trial.
Trump referred to Pecker as a “nice guy.” He argues that his comments did not breach the gag order, as per the judge’s recent directive.
“Because the offensive statement was made prior to this Court’s Decision of April 30 and because the People are seeking only a monetary fine, the Court will, once again, fine Defendant $1,000,” wrote Judge Merchan in a legal document.
“However, because this is now the tenth time that this Court has found Defendant in criminal contempt, spanning three separate motions, it is apparent that monetary fines have not, and will not, suffice to deter Defendant from violating this Court’s lawful orders,” he elaborated.
“Defendant is hereby put on notice that if appropriate and warranted, future violations of its lawful orders will be punishable by incarceration,” Merchan added.
During a courtroom proceeding, Merchan informed Trump that imprisonment would be considered a “last resort.”
“Mr. Trump, its important you understand the last thing I want to do is put you in jail. You are the former president of the United States and possibly the next president as well,” Merchan stated, as reported by CNN, cited by National Review.
The court ordered Trump to delete any statements violating the order from both his Truth Social account and his campaign website by 2:15 p.m. on Monday.
The gag order prohibits Trump from verbally assaulting witnesses, jurors, prosecutors, court personnel, or members of the judge’s family.
It does not, however, restrict him from making derogatory comments about Judge Merchan or Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat.
Last year, Bragg charged Trump with 34 counts related to the falsification of business records as part of an alleged scheme to suppress information regarding a purported extramarital affair with adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election.
Daniels alleges the affair took place while Trump’s wife, Melania, was pregnant with their son, Barron, who is now 18.
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