By Jack Queen, Brendan Pierson and Andy Sullivan
NEW YORK (Reuters) – The supervising judge Donald TrumpThursday’s criminal trial showed it could impose new fines on the former US president for violating a silence order that bars him from speaking about witnesses and jurors.
Justice Juan Merchan disputed a defense claim that Trump did not violate the silence order when he said the Manhattan jury in the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president was drawn from a heavily Democratic area.
“I argue that he didn’t do it,” Trump lawyer Todd Blanche told the judge.
“Well, I don’t agree with that argument,” Merchan responded without saying if or when he would impose a fine.
Prosecutors are asking Merchan to fine Trump $4,000 for violating the silence order four times last week. In one case, Republican Trump said in a television interview that “this jury was chosen so quickly – 95% Democrats.” The region is mostly all-Democratic.”
“Speaking of the jury, it jeopardizes this proceeding,” said prosecutor Christopher Conroy.
Conroy said Trump also violated the gag order by calling his former lawyer Michael Cohen a liar and former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker a “nice guy.” Pecker testified last week and Cohen is expected to be a crucial witness in the case.
Blanche said there was “no threat” in what Trump said about Pecker and said Cohen, in his social media comments, had “invited and almost dared” Trump to respond to his comments on the trial.
Any penalty would follow a $9,000 fine imposed by Merchan on Tuesday. Merchan said during that session that he could jail Trump if he continues to defy the silence order. Conroy said prosecutors are not yet seeking Trump’s imprisonment.
The gag order aims to prevent one of the world’s most prominent figures from intimidating witnesses, jurors and other participants in the trial. That doesn’t stop Trump from criticizing prosecutors or the judge himself.
On Thursday, Merchan was skeptical of Blanche’s argument that silence prevents Trump from responding to political attacks as he seeks to win back the White House in the Nov. 5 election.
“Everyone can say whatever they want about this matter,” Blanche said.
“They are not defendants in this case,” Merchan responded.
Trump claims prosecutors are working with Democratic President Joe Biden to thwart his bid to win back the White House and that Merchan faces a conflict of interest because his daughter has worked for Democratic politicians.
“I don’t think there’s ever been a more divisive — twisted and contradictory — judge,” Trump said at a rally in Michigan on Wednesday.
Trump is accused of falsifying business records to hide a discreet payment to porn star Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 presidential election. Trump has pleaded not guilty and said he did not have sexual relations with Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.
The hearing on silence took place at the start of the day…
