Accused felon in NYC trial found in contempt of court, fined $9,000, threatened with jail

[thewayne]

The prosecution cited at least ten instances of the defendant violating a gag order on social media, the judge fined the defendant for nine, each $1,000. The defendant was also ordered to remove all nine posts from social media. The judge in the case said that if violations are repeated, that "incarceratory punishment" could be imposed.

The judge also stated that he would like to charge more for the fines due to the defendant's sizeable wealth, however, this was the statutory maximum allowed.

Some think that he may be angling for this. The defendant's niece, Mary, a licensed psychotherapist, thinks this could be quite the major blow as he would be left without cosmetic products or a smart phone, the concept of someone like the defendant left in jail to confront his personal demons for a few days could potentially be quite damaging to him.

On the plus side, the defendant was told that the trial is moving at a sufficient pace and making good enough progress that the defendant would be allowed time off to go to his son's high school graduation.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/judge-holds-trump-contempt-violating-gag-order-hush-money-trial-rcna149101

Comments

[kaishin108]

What a s ---t show this is, jeez.
I think he would like the jail time for publicity reasons but yes, no make up and no hair products, that could be tragic.

Who knew it would ever come to this for presidential candidate.

[rain_gryphon]

Fining Trump $9k is about like fining me nine cents. Personally, I think he's trying hard to get the judge to put him in jail for the PR boost.

[richardf8]

This man should have been arrested like a Black man driving a red car with a broken tail light on Lake St. in Minneapolis.

But he's White, Rich, and ostensibly Christian, and if O.J. taught us anything, it's that you just need 2 out of 3 to get away with murder.

[conuly]

I think part of the reason OJ Simpson got away with murder is that the notoriously racist LAPD was not satisfied with an open-and-shut case and then planted evidence. Incompetently.

[thewayne]

It was also the dawn of using DNA evidence in court, and they could have done a better job of selling it to the jury.  His money bought him an amazing defense team that completely outclassed the prosecution.

[thewayne]

I don't know that I would call him ostensibly Christian.  He occasionally pretends to be one, but he never attends regularly, never attends on the equivalent of the High Holy Days, and when he did his performative act during the riots when he was in office for his little photo op, he managed to hold the bible upside-down.  What he is, is someone who knows how to suck up to people and say the right words to make them think he's on their side.  As I said, performative.  He's a Performative Christian.  We used to talk about some people as those who'd put on their Sunday Coat, he doesn't even do that.

[pondhopper]

It all makes me sick to my stomach that he can actually run for president again...despite all of the above.

[thewayne]

Yeah, tell me about it.  All because a crooked Senate led by Mitch wouldn't honestly look at evidence because he had an (R) by his name.

[disneydream06]

Throw him in and throw away the key. ARGH!!!!!!!!
Hugs, Jon

[thewayne]

Unfortunately if he's convicted on all counts, max sentence is only four years.

[disneydream06]

It's no where near enough, but I would be happy to see him behind bars for a week. ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[silveradept]

It is an unenviable position for a judge to be in when fining the defendant won't change his behavior, because even though he's inflated his wealth regularly, he does have enough to pay the fine, and where putting him in jail for his behavior might be better for his publicity and incite his followers to engage in stochastic terrorism. The rule of law needs to be respected, but there are no good outcomes that will either shut the defendant up and get him to stop or tamp down the possible bad actions that could be taken against others.