On April 29, former President Trump was held in contempt for the 10th time over the violation of the gag order. The judge who held Trump in contempt is Juan Merchan, the same judge overseeing his hush-money case.
According to law, the punishment for violating a Gag order is paying a fine of $1,000, staying in jail for 30 days, or both. Donald Trump has already been fined for violating the gag order nine times, and the judge requested that he pay a fine of $9,000.
Since this is his 10th time violating the order, Judge Merchan stated that any other violation would lead Trump to jail. The judge said, “Going forward, this court will have to consider a jail sanction.” That statement didn’t free Trump from any fine.
Trump’s Response to the Threat
The judge made the president understand that the last thing he’d want to do is send him to jail. “You are the former president of the United States and possibly the next president as well,” Justice Merchan said. Well, it didn’t just end there; Trump was asked to pay a fine of $1,000.
Justice Merchan stated that confining Trump would disrupt the electoral proceedings. However, Trump’s constant violation of the gag order is a direct attack on the rule of law. As the judge spoke, former President Trump reacted with a smirk on his face. He sure wasn’t pleased with what the judge said.
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On Trump’s way out of the courtroom, some interviewers approached him so he’d share his views. Well, Trump didn’t hesitate. He said the gag order was disgraceful and that the American Constitution is more important than jail. In Trump’s words, “It’s not even close. I’ll make that sacrifice any day.”
Judge Merchan’s Options For Trump Other Than Jail
According to Karen Friedman Agnifilo, Judge Merchan has other punishment options for Trump besides imprisoning him. For instance, the judge can put him in for a few hours in the holding cell behind the courtroom, or he could be put in for the day or over lunch.
He could do it that way until he succeeds in putting Trump in overnight. On the other hand, the New York City Department of Corrections, US Secret Service, and New York State Court Officers are searching for other plans that can be carried out just in case Trump isn’t put in jail.
The plan the Secret Service agents are working on is a totally new plan that has never been included in the manual for protecting the former president. One of the plans the Secret Service agents have put together is one where the judge can put Trump in custody for some hours under their watch or that of the court officers.
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If Trump has to be detained for a longer time, the plan has to be adjusted. Furthermore, the Secret Service also has a plan to request that Trump be held south of New York State custody. However, for the success of this plan, Trump’s food has to be screened.
Also, Secret Service agents would have to be outside or inside wherever the New York City Department of Corrections would like to hold him.
Donald Trump’s Thoughts on the Jury Selection
On April 22, Donald Trump appeared on “Just the News, No Noise.” During the interview, Trump shared his feelings about the jury selection. He noted that he felt as though the judge was rushing the trial.
In Trump’s words, “Nobody’s ever seen a thing go like this. That jury was picked so fast — 95% Democrats. The area’s mostly all Democrat. You think of it as a — just a purely Democrat area. It’s a very unfair situation, that I can tell you.”
Well, this statement by Trump didn’t sit well with Merchan, who replied to his comments. According to the judge, Trump’s remarks about the jury selection violate the gag order. He also mentioned that Trump raised the specter of fear for the safety of the jurors selected and their loved ones, which isn’t acceptable.
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