Prosecutors ask judge to hold Trump in contempt for more gag order violations

Prosecutors successful former President Donald Trump's criminal trial successful New York urged nan judge connected Thursday to penalize nan suspect for much alleged violations of a gag bid limiting what he tin opportunity astir those progressive successful nan case.

At a contentious proceeding pinch Trump looking on, lawyers from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's agency told Judge Juan Merchan that Trump had violated Merchan's bid 4 much times successful caller weeks. 

On Tuesday, Merchan held Trump successful contempt of court for 9 posts connected societal media and his run website referencing apt witnesses. The judge fined him $1,000 per post, nan maximum allowed nether authorities law, and warned that Trump could beryllium jailed if he violates nan bid again.

Bragg's agency connected Thursday again asked nan judge to good Trump $1,000 for each usurpation but said they weren't seeking jailhouse time.

Prosecutors brought nan further alleged violations to nan judge's attraction past week, earlier he held Trump successful contempt. Two progressive comments astir Michael Cohen, Trump's erstwhile lawyer who is expected to beryllium a cardinal witnesser astatine trial. Another cited comments he made astir David Pecker, who testified connected nan guidelines past week. The 4th referenced remarks Trump made astir nan jury.

The contempt hearing

Former President Donald Trump attends his proceedings astatine Manhattan Criminal Court successful New York City connected May 2, 2024. MARK PETERSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Christopher Conroy presented nan prosecution's statement for holding Trump successful contempt for nan further alleged violations.

"The bid was issued because of nan defendant's persistent and escalating rhetoric aimed astatine participants successful this proceeding," Conroy said. "He's already been recovered to person violated nan bid 9 times, and he's done it again here."

He referenced Trump's comments astir Pecker, nan erstwhile media executive who testified astir his engagement successful nan "catch and kill" strategy to suppress antagonistic stories astir Trump successful 2015 and 2016. At a run extremity past week, Trump told reporters he thought Pecker had been "very nice."

"The suspect knows what he's doing. He talks astir nan witness, says bully things, does it successful beforehand of cameras," Conroy said. "The [question] he answered was astir nan witnesser who was testifying. It was deliberate and it was calculated."

Conroy said prosecutors weren't seeking jailhouse clip for nan further violations, since they "prefer to minimize disruptions to this proceeding" and because nan comments astatine rumor came earlier Merchan held Trump successful contempt for his earlier posts. Conroy asked Merchan to again good Trump $1,000 per violation.

Todd Blanche, an lawyer for Trump, based on that nan gag bid unfairly limits what his client's expertise to respond to governmental attacks. He cited a joke President Biden made astatine nan White House Correspondents Dinner complete nan play that referenced Stormy Daniels, and said Trump would not beryllium allowed to do nan aforesaid nether nan gag order. He besides pointed to media sum of nan trial: "Everyone tin opportunity immoderate they want, isolated from President Trump."

Merchan seemed unconvinced. He said that thing successful nan gag bid prevents Trump from responding to Mr. Biden, his rival for nan presidency, if Trump doesn't mention witnesses. He besides said he has nary authority complete what nan media reports astir nan trial.

Blanche based on that Trump's remark astir Pecker being "very nice" connected nan guidelines was a "very adjacent and neutral answer" to a mobility from a reporter. "When you person President Trump saying thing wholly neutral astir nan witness, that's not a violation," Blanche said. Merchan said he was not "not terribly concerned" astir that comment.

Turning to Cohen, Blanche said he has been "inviting and almost daring President Trump to respond to everything he has been saying" done "personal attacks, mocking him for being connected proceedings and comments astir his candidacy." Blanche cited respective posts connected X and podcast appearances by Cohen, who precocious said he would refrain from commenting during nan proceedings moving forward. 

"This is not a man that needs protection from nan gag order," Blanche argued.

Merchan raised different remark that prosecutors said violated his order. In a TV question and reply connected April 22, Trump said nan assemblage "was picked truthful fast" and made up of "95% Democrats." He called nan proceedings "a very unfair situation."

Blanche said that remark "absolutely, positively" did not break nan gag bid since Trump wasn't referring to a peculiar juror.

Merchan, seemingly frustrated, asked Blanche: "Is location thing other you'd for illustration to say? Just wrap it up." Trump's lawyer concluded by arguing that Cohen and Daniels should not beryllium shielded by nan gag order.

Merchan did not rumor an bid connected nan matter immediately, and nan proceedings proceeded pinch grounds from Keith Davidson, an lawyer who represented Daniels successful her negotiations complete trading nan authorities to her communicative successful 2016.