The judge presiding over former President Donald Trump‘s criminal trial in New York found him in contempt of court for breaching a gag order for the tenth time on Monday, cautioning that further violations could result in incarceration.
Judge Juan Merchan rebuked Trump for contravening his directive on April 22 by remarking on the political affiliation of the jury.
“That jury was picked so fast — 95% Democrats. The area’s mostly all Democrat,” Trump stated in an interview with the network Real America’s Voice. “It’s a very unfair situation, that I can tell you.”
In his official ruling, Merchan asserted that Trump’s remarks “not only cast doubt on the integrity, and thus the validity of these proceedings, but also revived concerns for the safety of the jurors and their families.”
He imposed a fine of $1,000, the maximum allowable under state law. Previously, Merchan had fined Trump $9,000 for nine breaches through social media posts and his campaign website. However, he indicated on Monday that the fines had not achieved their intended deterrent effect and that Trump could face imprisonment for future violations.
“Moving forward, this court may need to contemplate a custodial penalty if deemed necessary,” Merchan declared as the trial resumed on Monday.
He expressed reluctance towards incarcerating Trump, acknowledging the disruptions it would cause to the trial and the logistical challenges for the Secret Service and court officers responsible for safeguarding the former president.
“The gravity of such a decision is not lost on me,” he remarked. Nonetheless, he emphasized that the breaches of the gag order “represent a direct assault on the principles of law — a situation I cannot allow to persist.”
Trump is facing 34 charges of falsifying business records and has entered a plea of not guilty.
