Judge Juan Merchan fined former President Donald Trump $9,000 on Tuesday and held him in contempt for violating his gag order, warning he may impose jail time for future violations.
Merchan ordered Trump to remove the offending posts by 2:15 p.m. Tuesday and to pay the fine by May 3. He rejected Trump’s defense that he was simply engaging in political speech by responding to attacks by witnesses like Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels, writing that the court is “keenly aware of, and protective of, Defendant’s First Amendment rights, particularly given his candidacy for the office of President of the United States.”
“It is critically important that Defendant’s legitimate free speech rights not be curtailed, that he be able to fully campaign for the office which he seeks and that he be able to respond and defend himself against political attacks,” Merchan…
