Trump is fined $9,000 – E24

The judge in the bribery case believes that the ex-president has continued to break the gag order he has been placed on, and threatens Trump with prison if he does not follow the rules.

Judge Juan Merchan has again announced fines for the former president for several violations of the curfew imposed on him in the so-called bribery case, reports CNN.

Donald Trump is being fined $1,000 per violation and asked to pay a total of $9,000, according to Bloomberg.

At the same time, the judge warned that Trump could be jailed if the violations of the muzzle continue.

In the decision from the judge, it is stated that the court will not “tolerate more intentional breaches of the orders and that, if necessary and appropriate, the court will impose imprisonment”.

Trump showed no reaction when the judge read out the decision, writes CNN.

Must have written about key witnesses

Trump is not allowed to speak publicly about people who have anything to do with the case, such as potential witnesses and the jury.

A week ago, the prosecutor’s office asked the judge to fine Trump $10,000 for violating the gag order, after Trump, according to the prosecutor’s office, had allegedly posted ten posts online that they believe are in violation of the order.

This time, Trump is said to have posted on social media about two of the key witnesses in the case against him, porn actress Stormy Daniels and his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen, writes Bloomberg.

Historic trial

Donald Trump and his lawyers have previously referred to the muzzle as a violation of the ex-president’s freedom of speech.

Trump is the first former president in US history to be indicted in a criminal case. The indictment concerns a breach of the Accounting Act in connection with a payment of 130,000 dollars, just over NOK 1.4 million, to Stephanie Clifford, better known as Stormy Daniels.

The so-called hush money was paid via Trump’s lawyer Michael Cohen just before the presidential election in 2016, allegedly so that Clifford would keep a close eye on the fact that she and Trump had had sex in a hotel ten years earlier.