On Tuesday, the judge supervising Donald Trump’s criminal hush money prosecution penalized the former president $9,000 for making statements that breached the case’s gag order.
Justice Juan Merchan’s ruling came as Trump’s trial was set to resume in New York
Justice Juan Merchan’s ruling came as Trump’s trial was set to resume in New York, with testimony from a banker familiar with accounts involved in the former U.S. president’s alleged scheme to influence the 2016 election by covering up a sex scandal.
Trump, the Republican presidential candidate for 2024, is accused of manipulating business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence about a sexual encounter she claimed she had with Trump in 2006.
Trump has pleaded not guilty and denied having sex with Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.
The historic criminal trial against a former US president began on April 22.
Approximately two dozen Trump fans gathered outside the courthouse on Tuesday morning, chanting his name and waving banners that read “TRUMP 24.”
Garry Farro, a banker who is not accused of any crime, testified on Friday about financial papers submitted by Trump’s former lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, who prosecutors say helped carry out the scheme.
Trump is required to attend the trial but has stated that he may instead be campaigning ahead of his rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden on November 5.
The criminal case is one of four currently ongoing against Trump, but it may be the only one to get to trial and result in a verdict before the election.