Former US President Donald Trump has been found in contempt of court for breaching a gag order for the 10th time during his hush-money trial in New York.
Justice Juan Merchan issued his most severe warning to Mr. Trump yet, cautioning that further violations could result in incarceration.
“At the end of the day, I have a duty to uphold, and that is to safeguard the integrity of the judicial process,” the judge remarked.
This marks the second ruling on the gag order in the trial. Earlier in the proceedings concerning the hush-money case, Judge Merchan sided with the prosecution, levying a $1,000 (£796) fine for each of the nine prior violations.
Mr. Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection to concealing a payment to a porn actress to suppress an alleged sexual encounter, vehemently denying any wrongdoing.
During the third week of testimony in this unprecedented criminal trial involving a former president, Justice Merchan expressed that the $9,000 fine from previous infractions did not appear to serve as a deterrent.
“Henceforth, this court will need to contemplate imposing a jail sentence,” he stated. “It’s crucial that you comprehend that incarcerating you is the last resort.”
Prosecutors clarified last week that they were not currently pursuing jail time for Mr. Trump’s alleged violations of the gag order.
Justice Merchan recognized that incarcerating Mr. Trump would severely disrupt proceedings, but he characterized the violations of the gag order as “a direct assault on the rule of law” that he could not overlook.
Maintaining a stern demeanor at the defense table, Mr. Trump displayed minimal reaction to the prospect of jail time.
Following the court adjournment, Mr. Trump denounced the gag order as “disgraceful” and appeared defiant in response to the warning. “Our Constitution outweighs the threat of jail by far. It’s not even a comparison. I’d make that sacrifice any day,” he asserted later outside the courtroom.
Last week, prosecutors contended that Mr. Trump’s social media posts, where he criticized the jury for alleged bias due to the area’s Democratic leanings, constituted violations of the order.
The former president, a Republican, has consistently argued that he cannot receive a fair trial in predominantly Democratic Manhattan.