Judge warns Trump of 'jail' in 'hush money' trial! New fine issued...
Former US President Donald Trump has been fined one thousand dollars for violating the gag order imposed in the "hush money" trial once again. Judge Juan Merchan stated that if Trump continues to violate the order, he will be sentenced to jail.
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The trial of former US President Donald Trump, who is accused of paying "hush money" to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election, continued at the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York.
During the hearing, Judge Juan Merchan evaluated the prosecutors' complaint that Trump had violated the gag order regarding court staff, their families, and witnesses 4 more times. Ruling that 3 of Trump's comments did not constitute a crime, Merchan stated that 1 comment violated the gag order and fined Trump one thousand dollars.
Warning Trump that he would face harsher penalties if he continued to violate the order, Merchan said, "I will have to consider jail time in the future." Merchan emphasized that jail time would be a "last resort" if Trump failed to comply with court orders.
TRUMP'S ACCOUNTANT HEARD AS A WITNESS
In the hearing, Deborah Tarasoff, who previously worked in the accounting department of the Trump Organization, was also heard as a witness. Tarasoff confirmed that 12 checks of 35 thousand dollars each, sent to Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen as reimbursement for the 130 thousand dollar hush money payment made to Stormy Daniels in 2017, were signed by Trump. Stating that after 2015, every payment over 10 thousand dollars required the signature of either Trump or one of his sons, Tarasoff said regarding Donald Trump, "If he didn't want to sign it, he wouldn't have."
"PAYMENTS WERE LISTED AS LEGAL EXPENSES"
Another witness, Jeffrey McConney, the former financial controller of the Trump Organization, also answered questions regarding the 12 checks of 35 thousand dollars sent to Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen as reimbursement for the 130 thousand dollar hush money payment to Stormy Daniels. Stating that each of the payments made to Cohen at that time was listed as "legal expenses," McConney indicated that the payments had descriptions in the company records showing they were related to a legal retainer agreement.
TRUMP COULD FACE 4 YEARS IN PRISON IN HISTORIC TRIAL
In the case, also known publicly as the "hush money" trial, Trump is accused of paying "hush money" to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election and falsifying official records to cover up the payment. It is stated that Trump could face up to 4 years in prison at the end of the trial, which is significant as it marks the first time in US history that a former US President has been tried in a criminal case.