Trump Fined $9K for Hush Money Gag Order Breaches as NY Trial Begins

Former President Donald Trump was found in contempt of court and fined $9,000 on Tuesday for repeatedly violating a gag order prohibiting him from making public statements about individuals associated with his New York hush money case. Manhattan prosecutors accused Trump of nine breaches, but Judge Juan M. Merchan discovered ten. This comes at the beginning of week two of testimony in the historic trial where Trump and his associates are charged with participating in an unlawful scheme to influence the 2016 presidential election by concealing negative stories during campaign season through hush money payments made to cover up extramarital affairs, including one involving porn star Stormy Daniels. While Trump insists that he is exercising his free speech rights, this ruling constitutes a strong rebuke for him as the trial continues. His son Eric was present in court for the first time during these proceedings. The former president has been campaigning while required to attend when it’s in session four days per week due to scheduling conflicts with his criminal trials. In contrast, outside of the courthouse, Trump criticized prosecutors once more.
During last week’s hearing, Judge Merchan may decide on a request from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for fines against Trump as punishment for what they deem gag order breaches related to witnesses and others associated with the case. Another hearing is scheduled for Thursday regarding further alleged violations of this court-mandated prohibition on speaking out publicly about certain people connected to these legal proceedings. As jury selection continues, Pecker has already testified that he collaborated with Trump’s campaign by collecting damaging stories in order to bury them through the National Enquirer or individuals linked to his political effort as part of what came to be known as a “catch and kill” arrangement. This tactic involved purchasing unsavory tales from sources such as McDougal, a former Playboy model who alleged an affair with Trump, in order to conceal them from public view through the publication or others connected to his political campaign’s associates. Pecker described how he paid $180,000 for this purpose while working on behalf of American Media Inc., publisher of The National Enquirer tabloid, who previously testified that Trump wasn’t directly involved in either woman payment; nonetheless prosecutors said Tuesday their intent had been part a widespread election misconduct scheme.
Trump’s defense team has suggested during cross-examination that the former president was attempting to protect his name and family rather than influencing the outcome of the presidential race, despite Pecker’s testimony indicating otherwise. Gary Farro also testified last week regarding how he assisted Michael Cohen in establishing accounts for two LLC firms over a period spanning approximately three years during which time Cohen’s position as Trump’s attorney became increasingly critical to their work together at First Republic Bank given that its focus lies particularly in cases relating either closely related (but not exclusively) to those dealing with “adult entertainment.” These corporate-speak terms for business accounts, such as Resolution Consultants LLC and Essential Consultants LLC, provide legal protection against liability, debt or other issues. Cohen stated during his guilty plea that the former company was created specifically in order to facilitate payments made by American Media Inc., publisher of The National Enquirer tabloid; however, this transaction did not materialize as intended because it wasn’t funded subsequently moving onwards towards utilizing Essential Consultants LLC for covering up Stormy Daniels $130k settlement fee instead. When questioned regarding whether Cohen seemed anxious to get the bank accounts set up during his testimony last week Farro replied that “Every time Michael Cohen spoke to me, he gave a sense of urgency.”