BREAKING: Donald Trump Found In Contempt For Violating Gag Order In Hush Money Trial

On Tuesday, Judge Juan Merchan ruled that presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump will be held in contempt for violating the gag order placed on him earlier this year. The judge ruled that Trump would pay a fine of $1,000 per violation, totaling $9,000 for the various Truth Social posts that were deemed to have violated the court order.

The gag order imposed on Trump restricts his ability to comment on witnesses in the case, a fact that Trump maligned on Truth Social on Tuesday. "This conflicted, Trump Hating Judge won't let me respond to people that are on TV lying and spewing hate all day long," Trump wrote. "He is running rough shod over my lawyers and legal team. The New York System of "Justice" is being decimated by critics from all over the World. I want to speak or at least be able to respond. Election Interference! RIGGED, UNCONSTITUTIONAL TRIAL! Take off the Gag Order!!!"

In the filing submitted by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's (D) office earlier this month, the district attorney wrote that the judge must take action to punish Trump for the violations. "Defendant is not above the law, and he cannot simply disregard judicial orders that upset him," Bragg wrote. "Defendant's recent social media posts plainly violate the order because they target known witnesses concerning their participation in this criminal proceeding."

The DA's office cited three instances where Trump violated the order, with the first taking place on April 10 when Trump posted an image of an X post from Stormy Daniels' former lawyer, Michael Avenatti, that read, "We can't be hypocrites when it comes to the 1st Amendment. It is outrageous that Cohen and Daniels can do countless TV interviews, post on social, & make $$ on bogus documentaries — all by talking shit about Trump — but he's gagged and threatened with jail if he responds." Trump then added, "Thank you to Michael Avenatti—for revealing the truth about two sleaze bags who have, with their lies and misrepresentations, cost our Country dearly!"

The second alleged violation also took place on April 10 when Trump posted an image of a letter signed by Stormy Daniels in 2018 that denied any sexual encounter with Trump. "LOOK WHAT WAS JUST FOUND! WILL THE FAKE NEWS REPORT IT' Trump commented alongside the picture.

The last violation took place on April 13 when Trump wrote on Truth Social, "Has Mark POMERANTZ been prosecuted for his terrible acts in and out of the D.A.'s Office. Has disgraced attorney and felon Michael Cohen been prosecuted for LYING? Only TRUMP people get prosecuted by this Judge and these thugs! A dark day for our Country. MAGA2024!!!" Another instance cited by the prosecution was a Fox News clip posted by Trump that read, "They are catching undercover Liberal Activists lying to the Judge in order to get on the Trump Jury." 

A hearing for the gag order violations took place on April 23 and concluded with Judge Merchan being wholely unimpressed with Trump's lawyer, Todd Blanche, who attempted to argue that Trump was responding to attacks by Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels. The judge seemingly didn't buy Blanche's argument, repeatedly asking for examples of attacks against the former president. "I keep asking you over and over to give me an example, and I'm not getting an answer," the judge said, per NBC News.

Trump is currently facing down 34 felony counts in the case brought against him by DA Alvin Bragg. The trial is ongoing, with the 12-person jury currently hearing from a number of witnesses to determine if Trump is guilty or not guilty of falsifying business records.

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