Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg’s office has filed a formal request to hold Trump in contempt over three social media posts.
Prosecutors said during Monday’s hearing that three of Trump’s social media posts from this month "plainly violate" Judge Juan Merchan’s gag order, claiming they target witnesses who will be testifying at the trial, according to ABC News.
The prosecutors wrote in the filing, "And defendant's violations were knowing and willful -- indeed, they are the latest in what this Court has already recognized as a deliberate strategy to impede this criminal trial. To be sure, defendant has loudly and repeatedly complained that the order is unlawful, in both court filings and other public statements. But no court has agreed with his objections, and a defendant's mere disagreement with a court's order is no defense to criminal contempt."
Trump’s attorneys have insisted that he was responding to "repeated, salacious, demon attacks" by porn star Stormy Daniels and former Trump attorney Michael Cohen.
A hearing on the matter has been scheduled for next Tuesday.
According to Fox News, Trump could be fined $1,000 for each violation of the gag order.
Merchan placed a gag order on Trump in late March, prohibiting him from making statements about witnesses in the case as well as lawyers involved with "intent to materially interfere" with the case. The order was expanded in April to include "family members of any counsel, staff member, the Court or the District Attorney."
The first post Bragg’s team said was a violation of the order came on April 10 about Michael Avenatti. Trump reposted a statement from Avenatti that said, "We can’t be hypocrites when it comes to the 1st Amendment. It is outrageous that Cohen and Daniels can do countless TV interviews, post on social, & make $$ on bogus documentaries—all by talking sh*t about Trump—but he’s gagged and threatened with jail if he responds," according to Fox News.
Trump wrote in response to the post, "Thank you to Michael Avenatti --for revealing the truth about two sleeze bags who have, with their lies and misrepresentations, cost our Country dearly!!"
In another post, also on April 10, Trump shared a photo of a document titled "Official Statement of Stormy Daniels," dated January 30, 2018.
"Over the past few weeks I have been asked countless times to comment on reports of an alleged sexual relationship I had with Donald Trump many, many, many years ago," the statement from Daniels says. "I am not denying this affair because I was paid 'hush money' as has been reported in overseas owned tabloids. I am denying this affair because it never happened."
Trump posted, "LOOK WHAT WAS JUST FOUND! WILL THE FAKE NEWS REPORT IT."
A third statement noted by Bragg’s team had Trump criticizing former Manhattan prosecutor Mark Pomerantz.
"Has Mark POMERANTZ been prosecuted for his terrible acts in and out of the D.A.’s Office," Trump posted on April 13. "Has disgraced attorney and felon Michael Cohen been prosecuted for LYING? Only TRUMP people get prosecuted by this Judge and these thugs! A dark day for our Country. MAGA2024!!!"
This is a breaking story. Please refresh the page for updates.
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