It has been noted that former President Donald Trump’s social media posts that continue to attack witnesses and members of the court will soon be added to evidence after District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office indicated it will push the court to hold the former president in contempt for violating the gag order barring those attacks via Mediaite.
MSNBC legal analyst Lisa Rubin, who is inside the New York courthouse, tweeted on Monday morning, “While arguing for the admission of tweets and social media posts evocative of Trump’s pressure campaign on witnesses, the DA’s office drops this: ‘Shortly, we will be seeking an order to show cause why Defendant should not be held in contempt’ for violating the gag order.”
Trump’s trial for allegedly falsifying business documents related to hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels is underway and the question of Trump’s attacks on the judge and his former fixer, Michael Cohen, hangs over the proceedings.
MSNBC analyst Caroline Polisi, a defense attorney, explained the difficult position Judge Juan Merchan is currently in.
“Yeah and interesting that he did it over the weekend,” Polisis began, referring to Trump’s social media posts.
“You know, on the actual eve of trial, he had to know that that was going to take up some time this morning because obviously they would need to address this issue. The judge is in a tough spot here. No judge wants to be that, you know, person. That is the one to throw, former President Trump in jail for criminal contempt. I personally just don’t see that happening. But, the judge’s hands may be tied here. You know, we’ve seen previous judges issue these sort of escalating, sanctions, monetary sanctions,” she continued as an anchor pressed her on exactly what consequences Trump could face for violating the gag order.
“So the first is, you know, a tongue lashing, which by any other standard, any defendant would, you know, sort of shape up or ship out, and then you would have monetary sanctions and. Yeah, there is an option of, of putting him in jail if there’s no other recourse. He may be the one defendant that, you know, you just can’t get to shut up. Besides, you know, literally prying his phone away from him. But, you know, these are really thorny issues, and I don’t envy Judge Merchan’s position. We will be watching to see how he handles this today,” Polisis concluded.
Donald Trump’s continuous and aggressive criticism towards judges and courtroom staff who are involved in his various trials has raised serious concerns and fears of harassment and threats. Trump has made personal attacks against the family members of judges in his current trial and civil fraud trial.
He has even attacked the court’s clerk by sharing a link to their personal Instagram account on his social media. It is important to note that in courtrooms all across the country, defendants are strictly prohibited from attacking court staff or attempting to intimidate the proceedings by attacking witnesses, jurors, or judges.
NEW: While arguing for the admission of tweets and social media posts evocative of Trump’s pressure campaign on witnesses, the DA’s office drops this: “Shortly, we will be seeking an order to show cause why Defendant should not be held in contempt” for violating the gag order.
— Lisa Rubin (@lawofruby) April 15, 2024
