The former president of U.S, donald trump, was fined US$9,000 (R$46,000) this Tuesday, the 30th, for violating nine times the gag order that prohibits him from attacking witnesses, jurors and other people linked to his trial. The fine was imposed by Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the case in which Trump is accused of buying the porn actress’ silence. Stormy Daniels.
The decision also mentions that Trump could be arrested if the violations are repeated. The judge’s decision was, to date, the most critical point in the relationship between the court and the former president, who was at trial every day, although he did not receive the main attention.
Prosecutors in the case accused him of contempt and listed 10 public statements, including on social media, with the argument that they represent a “threat” to the trial, which has reached its third week. The judge found that Trump violated the gag order on nine of them and ruled that they must be removed from Truth Social this Tuesday.
Image shows former US President Donald Trump during the trial in the Stormy Daniels case, at Manhattan Court, New York Photograph: Victor Blue/AFP
In the decision, the judge rejected the allegations of Trump’s defense, which argued that he limited himself to republishing messages from other people and that he acted in response to political attacks from two potential witnesses in the case: Michael Cohen, accused of having mediated the payment to actress, and Daniels. The two were called “scumbags” by Trump in a post on his social network on April 14, the eve of the first day of the trial.
The other accusations include a republication of statements by Jesse Watters, a commentator on the conservative Fox News channel, who claimed that there were “infiltrated progressive activists” on the jury that will decide the sentence. The next day, a candidate for the jury withdrew for fear of being recognized.
To avoid intimidation and harassment, the judge decreed the anonymity of jury members and substitutes, who only respond to a number. Trump considers the bans an attack on his freedom to campaign and calls them unfair.
Prosecutors alerted the judge to four new potential violations. These were not covered by Tuesday’s decision and will be discussed in another hearing, which will be held on Thursday morning.
The judgement
Shortly after the fine, prosecutors resumed questioning Gary Farro, a banker who helped Trump fixer Cohen open the account used to pay Daniels and buy her silence about a sexual encounter she had with the former president. . Trump’s lawyers will question Farro after prosecutors finish questioning.
Trump is accused of falsifying records to cover up the secret payment made to Daniels. The payment made by Cohen was worth US$130,000 (R$672,000).
After interrogating Farro, prosecutors must delve deeper into the way the former president used to hide the money. One potential witness involved is Keith Davidson, Stormy Daniels’ lawyer who negotiated the payment with Cohen.
Trump pleaded not guilty and denied having had sexual relations with the actress. If convicted, he could face probation or up to four years in prison, but that doesn’t stop him from being a candidate in this year’s elections. /NYT, AP
Tags: Trump fined R46000 attacks witnesses Stormy Daniels case trial
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