Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, has once again found himself in hot water during his ongoing civil fraud trial. Judge Arthur Engoron imposed a fine of $10,000 on Trump for making disparaging remarks about court officials, marking the second time he has violated a gag order in the case.
During a break in the trial on Wednesday, Trump told reporters, “This judge is a very partisan judge with a person who is very partisan sitting alongside him – perhaps even much more partisan than he is”, according to CNN. Engoron concluded that the person Trump was referring to was a court clerk and called it a “flagrant” violation of the gag order.
Trump’s defence team argued that the former President’s comments were directed at his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, who is testifying against him. However, Engoron was not swayed by this explanation and left the fine in place. “Don’t do it again or it’ll be worse,” the judge emphasized.
This is not the first time Trump has faced penalties for breaching court protocols. Last week, Engoron fined him $5,000 for failing to remove a disparaging post about a court employee from his campaign website. The repeated violations indicate a growing tension between Trump and the judiciary, raising questions about the former President’s ability to adhere to legal procedures.
The trial, which involves allegations of inflating assets and defrauding banks and insurance companies, has been a source of significant stress for Trump. Reports suggest that his usually composed demeanour has shown cracks amidst the ongoing proceedings. Michael Cohen, Trump’s former personal lawyer, is among those testifying against him, further intensifying the scrutiny on the former president.
The repeated violations and fines could potentially impact the outcome of the trial. They also serve as a stark reminder of the gravity of the legal proceedings and the necessity for all involved parties to adhere strictly to court protocols.
