NY vs Trump wraps for the day after opening statements
Former President Trump's hush money payments trial entered its second week on Monday as lawyers on both sides prepared to deliver their opening statements. The court concluded its jury selection process over the course of four days last week.
Coverage for this event has ended.
Fox News contributor and legal expert Jonathan Turley said former President Donald Trump’s trial in Manhattan over allegedly falsifying business records has left him “in utter disbelief.”
“What is clear, is in this case, Trump is right. I mean, this is an embarrassment. I mean, the fact that we are actually talking about this case being presented in a New York courtroom, leaves me in utter disbelief. I mean, the the arguments today did in fact capture all the problems here,” Turley said Monday afternoon on Fox News.
"You had this misdemeanor under state law, that had run out, this is going back to relate it to the 2016 election. And they zapped it back into life by alleging that there was a campaign finance violation under the federal laws that doesn't exist," he said.
Turley was reacting to the trial Monday, which has officially kicked off in earnest after jury selection last week, as well as a recent poll finding 31% of Americans find Trump’s behavior at the crux of the case unethical, but not illegal. While an additional 14% said there was “nothing wrong” with Trump’s actions, and 35% who said his actions were “illegal.”
“This case should not have been brought , and if it were brought, there was no reason to have this right before the election in my view. But this is becoming the split screen election,” Turley said. “Earlier it was pretty damaging to see the split screen between Trump in different courtrooms. This is even more effective when the other side of the screen shows Biden campaigning in key states like Pennsylvania, while he's held in this courtroom."
“It really brings home something that bothers a lot of Americans, including people don't particularly like Trump, that this is the weaponization of the criminal legal system. It's something we should all be able to condemn."
Court wrapped up around 12:30 on Monday, earlier than initially anticipated, after a juror experiencing a toothache required a dental appointment.
Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker/REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg
Former President Donald’s trial in Manhattan court kicked off its second week on Monday by hearing from its first witness, former media publisher David Pecker.
Pecker briefly took the stand on Monday, where he spoke to the court about his background as the former CEO of American Media Inc., the parent company of the National Enquirer. Pecker told the court he worked for the company from March 1999 to August 2020, serving as chairman, president and CEO from 2015-2017.
Trial proceedings wrapped up earlier than initially expected on Monday at 12:30, with Pecker expected to resume his testimony Tuesday after 11 a.m.
The prosecution team alleges the former media publisher is a key figure in a "catch and kill" scheme that worked to benefit Trump ahead of the 2016 election. "Catch-and-kill" schemes are understood as tactics used by media and publishing companies to buy the rights of a person’s story with no intention of publishing it.
The trial itself focuses on Trump’s former personal attorney Michael Cohen paying former pornographic actor Stormy Daniels $130,000 to allegedly quiet her claims of an alleged affair she had with the then-real estate tycoon in the early 2000s. Trump has denied having an affair with Daniels.
Daniels reportedly spoke to the National Enquirer regarding her claims of an affair with Trump, with Pecker reportedly contacting Cohen to "purchase" Daniels' silence on the alleged affair.
Prosecutors allege that the Trump Organization reimbursed Cohen and fraudulently logged the payments as legal expenses. Prosecutors are working to prove that Trump falsified records with an intent to commit or conceal a second crime, which is a felony.
Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Donald Trump watches with his attorney Todd Blanche/REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg
The New York Courts announced it will publish daily transcripts of former President Donald Trump’s trial in Manhattan, according to a press release.
“With current law restricting the broadcasting of trial proceedings and courtroom space for public spectators very limited, the release of the daily transcripts on the court system’s website is the best way to provide the public a direct view of the proceedings in this historic trial,” said Chief Administrative Judge Joseph Zayas in the press release published Monday.
“This measure is in the interest of the public good and aligns with the court system’s commitment to judicial transparency and its ongoing efforts to enhance public access to, and understanding of, the courts and justice system.”
Trump was back in court on Monday for his second week of the trial, which included hearing from the first witness called by the district attorney’s office, former media publisher David Pecker.
Trump is expected next back in court on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. The day will begin with the judge overseeing the case, Juan Merchan, holding a hearing on the prosecution's request that Trump be held in contempt for violating a gag order that bans him from speaking publicly about witnesses and family members of court officials.
The court will then continue to hear testimony from Pecker.
First Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Norman St. George added in the New York Courts’ press release that the “historic case” has created “unparalleled public interest,” that required the “historic step by the court system” to release daily transcripts.
“I am pleased to join Chief Administrative Judge Zayas in announcing that the trial transcripts –providing a word-for-word account of the proceedings–will be posted daily on our website, giving the public ready access to the full, accurate court record. This will serve to enhance public understanding of the trial with minimum disruption to the courtroom proceedings,” St. George said.
The press release explained a certified transcript of each day’s proceeding will be posted online before the end of the next business day.
An attorney for former President Donald Trump, Will Scharf, slammed the ongoing trial in Manhattan as the “first of the Biden show trials.”
“I think this is the first of the Biden show trials playing out you in front of every American around the country. I think Americans see these prosecutions for what they are, which is politically motivated in an effort at election interference. I think President Trump's absolutely right," Scharf said Monday on Fox News.
"I'd also say that I'm limited in what I can say about this subject because of the wildly unconstitutional, unilateral gag order that Judge Merchan placed against President Trump and his team that prevents us from raising some of the very real issues that have come to light in court papers. And that just infect this prosecution from its initiation through to the present day."
Trump is under a gag order that prevents him from speaking publicly about witnesses and family members of court officials. Presiding Judge Juan Merchan will hold a hearing on the prosecution's request that Trump be held in contempt for violating a gag order Tuesday morning.
“I think it's a sad day for democracy to see elections playing out in courtrooms instead of at the ballot boxes where they belong," Scharf added.
Monday marked the second week of Trump’s ongoing trial in Manhattan, where he is facing 34 charges of falsifying business records in the first degree. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts.
The trial’s origins reach back to October of 2016, when Trump’s former personal attorney Michael Cohen paid former pornographic actor Stormy Daniels $130,000 to allegedly quiet her claims of an alleged extramarital affair she had with the then-real estate tycoon in 2006. Trump has denied having an affair with Daniels.
Prosecutors allege that the Trump Organization reimbursed Cohen, and fraudulently logged the payments as legal expenses.
Scharf continued Monday in his comment to Fox News that evidence presented during the trial will show the business records were not fraudulent.
“This is an indictment about business records fraud, purported business records fraud. And all the evidence is going to show that the business records in question, one, were not made by President Trump and, two, were not in any way shape or form fraudulent,” he said.
“This is a show trial. President Trump did absolutely nothing wrong. And we firmly believe that the evidence is going to bear that out in court in the coming weeks."
Former president Donald Trump leaves Trump Tower on his way to Manhattan criminal court, Monday, April 22, 2024, in New York.
Former President Donald Trump is expected to have an action-packed Tuesday after his second Monday in a Manhattan court wrapped up just after noon.
The NY vs. Trump case concluded for the day around 12:30, after the court heard from its first witness, former media published David Pecker, after seating a full jury and six alternate jurors last week.
Trump is expected back in the New York courtroom Tuesday morning at 9:30, when presiding Judge Juan Merchan will hold a hearing on the prosecution's request that Trump be held in contempt for violating a gag order that bans him from speaking publicly about witnesses and family members of court officials.
The gag order hearing will conclude at 11:00 a.m. The hearing will be paused and continued at a later date if no decision is reached by 11:00 a.m.
The jury will then be brought into the courtroom at 11:00, when Pecker will continue his testimony. Court will conclude for the day at 2 p.m.
Trump will then be expected back in court on Thursday, as the court holds a full-day recess each Wednesday.
Trump is facing 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. He has pleaded not guilty to each count.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he leaves court during his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court on April 22, 2024 in New York City. (Getty
Former President Donald Trump railed against the historic trial in Manhattan criminal court Monday, asking why the District Attorney's office picked up the case after other law enforcement bodies did not pursue charges.
"If this were such a great case, why didn't the Southern District bring it? Who looked at it and turned it down. Why didn't numerous other agencies and law enforcement groups look at it? Because it was shown to everybody. And very importantly, why didn't the Federal Elections do anything about it? Because this is federal, it's not state," he said.
"It's not state … It's never happened before, I believe. Never happened before … where the state tries to insert itself into federal elections. Never. Nobody's ever seen it. But, you know, Federal Elections took a total pass on it."
The Justice Department in 2019 "effectively concluded" its investigation into Trump’s payments. And in 2021, the Federal Elections Commission, the agency dedicated to enforcing campaign finance laws, announced that it had dropped a case looking into whether Trump had violated election laws for the payment to Daniels.
Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg picked up the case last year, announcing Trump's indictment in April of 2023.
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Emma Colton and Maria Paronich.
Defense attorneys on Monday argued that former President Trump "is innocent," maintaining that he "had nothing to do" with the alleged hush money payments that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg argues he orchestrated.
Opening statements were delivered in the historic and unprecedented criminal trial of the former president in Manhattan on Monday.
Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has been charged by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. The charges are related to alleged hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to all counts. He has blasted the trial as pure politics, a "political persecution" and maintains his innocence. The former president, and the first ever to be a defendant in a criminal trial, vowed to "tell the truth" if he takes the stand.
Defense attorney Todd Blanche on Monday said there was nothing illegal done, and argued that Trump was protecting himself against false allegations.
"Trump fought back to protect his family, reputation, brand," Blanche said. "And that is not a crime."
Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo delivered opening statements on Bragg’s behalf Monday, saying the case against Trump "is about a criminal conspiracy and a cover-up."
Colangelo argued that months after Trump announced his candidacy for president in June 2015, he invited former CEO of American Media Inc. (AMI) David Pecker to Trump Tower for a meeting. His then-attorney and "fixer" Michael Cohen was also in the meeting. AMI owned the National Inquirer.
"Those three men formed a conspiracy to influence the election," Colangelo argued.
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Emma Colton and Maria Paronich
Monday's proceedings ended in former President Trump's New York criminal trial, with Judge Juan Merchan saying the trial will continue Tuesday morning. (Getty Images)
Monday's proceedings ended in former President Trump's New York criminal trial, with Judge Juan Merchan saying the trial will continue Tuesday morning.
On Tuesday, Trump's lawyers will defend against accusations from Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg that Trump violated a gag order against him. Prosecutors claim Trump violated Merchan's gag order seven times by speaking publicly about witnesses and family members of court officials.
Trump defended himself in a statement to the media while leaving the courtroom Monday afternoon. He argued that the payments he made to former attorney Michael Cohen were perfectly legal. He also said it is perfectly normal for a company to impose non-disclosure agreements.
Prosecutors charged Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records. They say Trump made hush money payments to pornography actress Stormy Daniels to prevent her from going public about an affair just prior to the 2016 election.
Trump also commented on New York AG Letitia James' effort to void his $175 million bond payment in his previous civil fraud case. She argued the bond company involved in the payment may not be able to insure it. The judge sided against James on Monday, however.
Monday's proceedings ended early at 12:30 due to a juror suffering from a toothache and had a dentist appointment.
Donald Trump and Todd Blanche (Getty Images)
Prosecutors with Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's office called their first witness in the criminal case against former President Trump on Monday.
The witness, David Pecker, is the former published for the National Enquirer. He is expected to testify regarding the outlet's so-called "catch-and-kill" operations, in which the outlet would pay for a rights to a story and then not publish it.
Pecker took the stand just after prosecutors and the defense delivered their opening statements. Attorney Todd Blanche spoke for the defense.
"President Trump is innocent. President Trump did not commit any crimes. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office never should have brought this trial," Blanche said.
"I have a spoiler alert, there is nothing wrong with trying to influence an election; it’s called democracy. They put something sinister on it," he added. "[Michael] Cohen paying Stormy [Daniels] was not illegal. Entering into an NDA was not illegal. Companies do that all the time. There is nothing illegal about it."
The prosecution is expected to eventually call both Cohen and Daniels to testify. Trump himself may take the stand as well, though that is up to his discretion.
Former President Trump’s $175 million bond judgment stemming from his non-jury civil trial will stand, a New York judge ruled Monday after New York Attorney General Letitia James attempted to invalidate it.
Lawyers for James on Monday argued that the court should void Trump’s slashed judgment of $175 million in his non-jury civil fraud trial. James questioned whether the company that posted the massive bond, Knight Specialty Insurance, could actually pay the bond if needed.
The court, however, ruled against James, deciding that the bond will stand.
The court decided the $175 million needs to be in cash — not in mutual funds or securities where the value can fluctuate. The court said Knight Insurance cannot trade or move the money, but said they will retain control of the account.
The court also ruled that Knight Insurance must provide a monthly financial statement to James showing the $175 million in cash, and decided that the agreement cannot change without approval from the court.
The hearing Monday lasted for approximately an hour.
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Brook Singman
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg can bring up information from cases brought against former President Trump by New York Attorney General Letitia James and E. Jean Carroll in the cross-examination of the 2024 GOP presumptive nominee should he testify in his own defense, the judge presiding over the trial ruled Monday.
Bragg and prosecutors in the district attorney's office filed a motion last week saying they intend to use Trump’s alleged "prior misconduct and criminal acts" to discredit him after he testifies in the criminal trial.
Trump has never been convicted of a crime.
Judge Juan Merchan, who is presiding over the criminal trial, decided Monday that Bragg’s office can bring up information from James’ lawsuit against the former president — including New York Judge Arthur Engoron’s decision that found him liable of fraud.
Trump was required to post a $454 million bond in that case, but an appeals court slashed that judgment in half to $175 million while the former president and his legal team appeal the ruling.
Engoron made the decision after a monthslong, non-jury civil fraud trial.
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Brooke Singman
Donald Trump (Getty images)
Judge Juan Merchan instructed jurors on how to handle the case as proceedings got underway in former President Trump's NY criminal case on Monday.
Merchan spoke with the jurors just before prosecutors made their opening statement. He explained the nature of evidence and how it will be presented to the court, and he emphasized that the indictment against Trump is not evidence of guilt.
He told jurors they are not allowed to ask questions, but they are allowed to take notes throughout the trial.
He also went on to instruct the jurors not to discuss the case with anyone, visit any places where the crime was alleged to have been committed, or read about and research the case outside of the courtroom.
Prosecutors are seeking to establish that Trump's hush money payment to pornography actress Stormy Daniels was in fact a campaign contribution that went unreported. Trump argues the payment was not directly related to his 2016 campaign.
Former President Trump blasted President Biden on Monday ahead of opening statements in his New York criminal trial and said he wants the American people to "understand" that his criminal trial is taking place "for the purposes of hurting the opponent of the worst president in the history of our country."
Trump arrived in court in Manhattan Monday morning before prosecutors for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office and his defense attorneys deliver their opening statements in the trial.
Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has been charged by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. The charges are related to alleged hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to all counts. He has blasted the trial as pure politics, a "political persecution" and maintains his innocence. The former president, and the first ever to be a defendant in a criminal trial, vowed to "tell the truth" if he takes the stand.
"I just want to say before we begin — these are all Biden trials," Trump said before opening statements were delivered Monday. "This is done as election interference. Everybody knows it."
Donald Trump (Getty Images)
Former President Trump complained about his Manhattan trial on social media as he headed to the courthouse to begin the second week of proceedings Monday.
Trump once again dismissed the NY vs. Trump trial as an attempt to kneecap his 2024 presidential campaign.
"Make no mistake about it, this is a Biden Trial, they all are. It’s all about Election Interference. Sad!" he wrote on Truth Social, following up with several other posts.
"WITCH HUNT!" one said. "ELECTION INTERFERENCE!!" read another.
He went on to complain about the lack of a crowd outside the Manhattan courtroom.
"Unlike at Columbia University where the Radical Left Palestinian Protesters sat on the Front Lawn, practically took over the School, and screamed, “Death to the Jews, Death to Israel, Death to America,” and nothing happened to them, Lower Manhattan surrounding the Courthouse, where I am heading now, is completely CLOSED DOWN. SO UNFAIR!" he wrote.
Judge Juan Merchan announced that proceedings in former President Trump's NY vs Trump trial will end early on Monday due to a jury member complaining of a toothache.
The proceedings will now end at 12:30 ET rather than 2 p.m., Merchan said. The juror in question, number 6, told the judge that they have a dentist appointment at 1:20.
Another juror, number 9, expressed concern about media attention surrounding the trial and said they were unsure about continuing to serve. Judge Merchan spoke with the juror a separate room along with lawyers for the prosecution and defense before announcing that the person would remain on the jury.
Jury selection concluded late last week after two confirmed jurors were dismissed. They both expressed concern about being identified by the public via press reports.
Donald Trump (Getty Images)
Former President Trump spoke with the press as he entered the Manhattan courtroom to continue his hush money payments trial on Monday.
Trump once again argued that the case against him is a "witch hunt" put together by President Biden's administration. Monday marks the beginning of the second week of Trump's trial, and lawyers for the defense and prosecution will offer their opening statements.
"These are all Biden trials," Trump said of the four indictments against him.
Trump also reacted to a new effort by New York Attorney General Letitia James to void his $175 million bond payment made in relation to the civil fraud case brought against him earlier this year.
Trump put up the $175 million required in the ruling against him, but James now argues the insurance company involved in the payment may not have enough money to uphold the payment.
Trump argued that the civil fraud case will hurt New York's economy as well.
"Businesses will be fleeing because people are treated so badly. It's got to be the most unfriendly place for business, and that's why businesses are leaving," he said.
Two jurors who were initially selected and sworn in on the second day of jury selection in Former President Trump's trial were excused from their duties late last week.
One female juror, initially known as juror #2, an oncology nurse, said upon returning to court on Thursday that after “sleeping on” the responsibility and giving it further thought, she realized she could no longer be a fair and impartial juror.
She also indicated that her friends and members of her family had guessed her identity as a juror based on media reports, impacting her ability to remain unbiased.
The other juror, initially known as juror #4, a male, was also dismissed Thursday after it was revealed that he had been arrested in Westchester, N.Y., for tearing down right-leaning political posters.
In what may be the most closely watched case this term at the Supreme Court – involving the highest-profile appellant – former President Donald Trump has offered a sweeping argument for why he should not face trial for alleged election interference.
The high court will hold arguments Thursday morning in what could determine the former president's personal and political future. As the presumptive GOP nominee to retake the White House, Trump is betting that his constitutional assertions will lead to a legal reprieve from the court's 6-3 conservative majority – with three of its members appointed to the bench by the defendant himself.
The official question the justices will consider: Whether, and if so, to what extent does a former president enjoy presidential immunity from criminal prosecution for conduct alleged to involve official acts during his tenure in office?
This is new territory for the Supreme Court and the nation. No current or former president has ever been criminally indicted.
The stakes could not be higher – both for the immediate election prospects, and the long-term effect on the presidency itself and the rule of law. But it will be the second time this term the high court will hear a case directly involving the former president.
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Shannon Bream and Bill Mears
Donald Trump (Getty Images)
Judge Juan Merchan has said former President Trump must attend every day of his criminal trial in New York City. If he does not attend, he could be arrested.
Merchan, who is presiding over the historic and unprecedented criminal trial stemming from charges brought against Trump by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, has said court will take place Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Court will not convene on Wednesdays.
Trump attorneys argued that the former president should be granted an exemption on April 25 – a Thursday – the same day the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on presidential immunity in relation to charges brought against him by Special Counsel Jack Smith after his months-long investigation into election interference.
Trump pleaded not guilty to those charges. The high court has agreed to expedite the appeal. A decision on the matter is expected by mid-June.
But Merchan rejected Trump’s request.
"Arguing before the Supreme Court is a big deal, and I can certainly appreciate why your client would want to be there, but a trial in New York Supreme Court … is also a big deal," Merchan said during the first week of the trial. "I will see him here next week."
Trump also requested to miss court on May 17, the day his youngest son, Barron, graduates from high school.
Merchan has not yet made a decision on whether Trump can go to his son’s graduation next month, and said he needs to see how the trial will play out.
Michael Avenatti, the one-time "most dangerous enemy" of Donald Trump who liberals hoped would bring down his presidency, thinks the hush money case against him in New York is flawed, politically motivated and part of a wider anti-democratic effort to take 2024 out of the voters' hands.
And to prove his point, consider the source, Avenatti told Fox News Digital in a phone interview from federal prison.
"I certainly see him as a victim of the system," he said. "And that's something that I never thought I would say. So if Michael Avenatti is coming to his defense, and I was one of his staunchest opponents for a very significant period of time, that should tell people something."
The disgraced former attorney for Stormy Daniels, who once flirted with a White House run himself before his multiple criminal convictions, thinks the four separate criminal cases Trump is facing as he runs for president in 2024 are "absolute overkill" and an effort to keep the American people from having their say between him and President Biden.
"You've got a group of individuals in the United States who have decided that they know better as to who should be the next president, and they've decided that they don't want to leave it to quote, the little guy, close quote," he said of the various cases against Trump. "So they're going to take matters into their own hands to prevent those people from being heard, and I am deeply disturbed and disgusted by it."
If you believe in democracy, he says, "this should be settled at the ballot box." Trump is also facing charges on Georgia election interference, federal election interference and mishandling of classified documents.
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' David Rutz
Reports surfaced last week that former President Trump dozed off at the outset of his high-profile trial in New York City related to charges he illegally suppressed information about himself in 2016.
In a surprising report, New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman wrote that Trump “appeared to nod off a few times, his mouth going slack and his head drooping onto his chest.”
Following the report, the hashtag #SleepyDonald briefly trended on X, formerly Twitter, while the Biden campaign and several pundits, like “The View” host Whoopi Goldberg, took the opportunity to mock the former president.
Trump’s campaign has denied the report, noting the court's sketch artist, who was present. The campaign said Trump closed his eyes "momentarily."
“This is fake news from a reporter who wasn’t even in the courtroom,” the campaign told Fox News Digital.
"I’ve heard that report. It’s unlikely. I know him. I sat through trial after trial with him. That never happens. So, President Trump is incredibly focused,” Trump legal spokesperson Alina Habba told Fox News on Tuesday.
Donald Trump (Getty Images)
Opening statements in former President Trump’s historic and unprecedented criminal trial are set to begin Monday morning, and the judge is also expected to rule on several motions that could make the trial even more difficult for the former president.
The full jury of 12, plus six alternate jurors, were selected and sworn in on Friday after four days of jury selection.
Judge Juan Merchan, who is presiding over the trial, instructed jurors on Friday not to discuss or to research anything relating to the former president’s case over the weekend or while serving on the panel.
Merchan said opening arguments will be delivered by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s team and Trump defense attorneys.
Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has been charged by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. The charges are related to alleged hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to all counts. He has blasted the trial as pure politics, a "political persecution" and maintains his innocence. The former president, and the first ever to be a defendant in a criminal trial, vowed to "tell the truth" if he takes the stand.
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Brooke Singman
Judge Juan Merchan imposed a gag order on former President Trump, due to his "prior extrajudicial statements." Merchan said they established "a sufficient risk to the administration of justice."
Merchan ordered that Trump cannot make or direct others to make public statements about witnesses concerning their potential participation or about counsel in the case – other than District Attorney Alvin Bragg – or about court staff, DA staff or family members of staff.
Merchan also ordered that Trump cannot make or direct others to make public statements about any prospective juror or chosen juror.
Last week, Bragg filed a motion alleging that Trump had violated that gag order three times by posting about possible witnesses on social media. Bragg is urging the judge to hold Trump in contempt and fine him $1,000 per violation.
By Thursday, Bragg had said that Trump has now allegedly violated the gag order seven times. Bragg has urged the judge to warn the former president that future violations could not only result in additional fines, but possible jail time of up to 30 days.
The judge is expected to rule on Bragg’s motion this week.
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