Trump fined $9,000, judge threatens jail time

(Patria) - Former US President Donald Trump has been fined $9,000 for contempt of court.

He was fined for repeatedly violating a gag order on commenting on the court proceedings publicly, meaning making public statements about witnesses, jurors, and other individuals connected to the trial in New York concerning hush-money payments to pornographic actress Stormy Daniels.

If he does it again, the judge warned, he could be sent to jail.

Prosecutors cited ten instances where Trump violated the gag order, but Judge Juan Merchan found there were nine such cases.

The decision represents a stern warning to the former Republican president, who insists he is merely exercising his right to free speech.

Merchan wrote that Trump "is hereby put on notice that the Court will not tolerate continued willful violations of its lawful orders, and that it may, if necessary, impose a custodial sentence.".

Trump looked down at the table in front of him, frowning, as the judge read the decision, VOA reports.

The judge made this decision at the beginning of the second week of testimony in the historic trial against the former president.

Manhattan prosecutors allege that Trump and his associates participated in an illegal scheme to influence the 2016 presidential campaign by preventing negative stories about him from reaching the media and the public.

Trump must pay the fine by the end of the business day on Friday, Judge Merchan stated in his written ruling.

He will have to remove seven offending posts from his Truth Social social media account and two from his campaign website by 2:15 PM local time on Tuesday, Merchan added.

The judge is also considering other allegations of Trump violating the gag order and will hear arguments on them on Thursday.