Trump Jailed for 30 days?
This is madness!
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg made clear his stance on Tuesday, advocating for the imposition of the “maximum fine” on former President Donald Trump for alleged violations of a gag order through his social media activity. This move comes as prosecutors filed a brief, asserting that Trump should be held in contempt for breaching the gag order set by presiding Judge Juan Merchan back in March.
The filed documents outline prosecutors’ pursuit of the highest financial penalty possible for each instance of violation, amounting to $1,000 per offending post. Additionally, they proposed a potential 30-day jail term for subsequent breaches.
Trump’s legal predicament stems from a criminal case initiated following investigations by Bragg’s office, resulting in indictments in March 2023. These charges relate to purported falsifications of business records in connection to hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign. Trump, the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee, maintains his innocence, decrying the case as politically motivated.
The gag order, initially targeting public statements about witnesses, evolved to encompass Merchan’s and Bragg’s families after Trump’s verbal attacks on Judge Merchan’s daughter, Loren Merchan.
In response to Trump’s alleged violations on social media, the prosecution moved for sanctions, urging a $1,000 fine per post, emphasizing the gravity of subsequent infractions.
The legal community, including figures like former U.S. attorney Joyce Vance and Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen, weighed in on the matter, highlighting the implications of Trump’s actions vis-à-vis the gag order.
Trump’s camp, however, contends that the gag order encroaches upon his constitutional rights to political speech, particularly concerning his aspirations for the presidency.
The stage is now set for a judicial review, with Judge Merchan slated to hear arguments on April 23 regarding the alleged breaches of the gag order.
