Donald Trump Fined $10,000 for Second Gag
In a significant development in the civil fraud case against former U.S. President Donald Trump, he has been fined $10,000 for the second time due to a violation of the gag order imposed by the New York judge overseeing the case. Justice Arthur Engoron had initially imposed the order on October 3, after Trump shared a photo on social media of the judge’s top clerk posing with U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and falsely labeled her as Schumer’s “girlfriend.”
During a break in the proceedings, Trump made comments to reporters that were perceived as disparaging toward the judge. He referred to the judge as a “very partisan judge,” which Justice Engoron interpreted as a “blatant” violation of the gag order. Trump’s statements came as his former lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, was testifying against him for the second day.
Before being fined, Trump briefly took the witness stand and attempted to clarify that he was referring to the judge and Cohen during his remarks. However, the judge rejected this interpretation, emphasizing that Trump’s statements were not directed at Cohen. Justice Engoron warned Trump, “Don’t do it again or it will be worse.”
This development unfolded as Trump, the leading contender for the Republican nomination in the 2024 U.S. election, was in the midst of a civil fraud trial initiated by New York Attorney General Letitia James. The case centers on allegations that Trump and the Trump Organization manipulated asset values and net worth to deceive lenders and insurers, a situation that could have significant consequences for Trump’s business empire.
The trial featured Cohen’s two days of testimony, marking his first face-to-face interactions with Trump in five years. Cohen alleged that Trump had artificially inflated the value of real estate assets to secure favorable insurance premiums, a claim that could have far-reaching implications for the case.
Cohen, now a fierce critic of Trump, defended his credibility during cross-examination, even though he acknowledged having a financial incentive to criticize the former president. Trump’s defense sought to undermine Cohen’s credibility by suggesting he had made a career out of attacking Trump for personal gain.
also read: Donald Trump Compares Himself to Nelson Mandela (ghanaeducation.org)
In response to the questioning, Cohen denied that the more outrageous his stories about Trump, the more money he earned.
A lawyer representing Trump’s adult son, Eric Trump, a co-defendant in the case, requested an immediate verdict in the defense’s favor based on what he perceived as contradictory testimony from Cohen. However, the judge denied this request, emphasizing that it would be premature to make such a ruling based on an “equivocal” statement by a single witness.
The trial, which primarily focuses on damages, is a critical legal battle. The attorney general seeks at least $250 million in fines, a permanent ban on Trump and his sons from running businesses in New York, and a five-year commercial real estate ban on Trump and the Trump Organization.
As the trial unfolds, it continues to draw attention not only for its legal implications but also for its political significance in the context of the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Trump, who has pleaded not guilty in multiple cases this year, maintains his denial of wrongdoing in the civil fraud case. The outcome of this case could have far-reaching consequences for his political future.
MORE STORIES FOR YOU [wp_rss_retriever url=”https://ghanaeducation.org/feed/” items=”10″ excerpt=”0″ read_more=”true” credits=”true” new_window=”true” thumbnail=”0″ cache=”24″]
BOOKMARK GHANAEDUCATION.ORG FOR MORE!
Send Stories | Social Media | Disclaimer
Send Stories and Articles for publication to [email protected]
We Are Active On Social Media
WhatsApp Channel: JOIN HERE
2024 BECE and WASSCE Channel - JOIN HERE
Facebook: JOIN HERE
Telegram: JOIN HERE
Twitter: FOLLOW US HERE
Instagram: FOLLOW US HERE
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this post on Ghana Education News is for general information purposes only. While we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the post for any purpose.