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Hush money trial: Judge threatens Trump with imprisonment
May 6, 2024, 6:43 p.m
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Donald Trump can’t help it. The ex-president has to pay a fine again because he spoke out about those involved in his hush money trial and ignored a news blackout. Now the judge is threatening harsher consequences.
In the trial against Donald Trump in connection with hush money payments to the porn actress Stormy Daniels, the former US President has to pay another fine. The court found that Trump had again violated a news blackout and made comments about members of the trial. Judge Juan Merchan therefore decided to impose a fine of $1,000, but suggested heavier penalties for further violations: “The last thing I want to do is put you in prison,” Merchan said, according to consistent reports from journalists in court . He is aware that Trump is the former and perhaps future president. “But at the end of the day, I have a job to do.”
Last week, Merchan had already punished Trump with a payment of $9,000 for unauthorized statements. The 77-year-old is known for aggressive behavior, including in court proceedings. In the run-up to the trial, he repeatedly portrayed Merchan and District Attorney Alvin Bragg, among others, as corrupt and biased. The judge therefore blocked comments about prosecutors, witnesses and jurors as well as their relatives.
The indictment accuses Trump of wanting to influence the outcome of the 2016 US presidential election by paying $130,000 in hush money to Daniels. Although the transaction itself was not illegal, when returning the money to his lawyer Michael Cohen, Trump falsified business documents in order to conceal their actual purpose.
This is the first criminal trial against an ex-president in US history. Trump faces several years in prison, which could also be suspended, or a fine. The case could influence the US election campaign. Trump wants to be re-elected president in November. He had pleaded not guilty.