Judge Fines Donald Trump $5,000 for Violating Gag Order in Civil Fraud Trial
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has been fined $5,000 by a New York judge for violating a gag order that prohibited him from disparaging court staff during his civil fraud trial. The judge, Justice Arthur Engoron, warned that any future transgressions would result in “far more severe” sanctions, including possible imprisonment.
The violation occurred when Trump posted on social media attacking the judge’s clerk, a post that was later deleted from his Truth Social platform but remained visible on his 2024 campaign website for two weeks after an order was issued to remove it. While the judge acknowledged that the violation appeared inadvertent, he stressed that future violations would not be tolerated.
Engoron, who is presiding over the civil fraud trial brought by New York state Attorney General Letitia James, warned that possible sanctions for future violations could include steeper fines and imprisonment. The lawsuit accuses Trump of unlawfully inflating his net worth to deceive lenders.
Despite facing mounting legal troubles and court-ordered restrictions on his public statements, Trump remains the frontrunner for the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic President Joe Biden in the upcoming U.S. election. However, his ongoing legal battles have not deterred his lead in the polls.
The limited gag order was imposed on October 3 after Trump shared a photo on social media of the judge’s top clerk with U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and referred to her as Schumer’s “girlfriend.” The judge deemed comments directed at his staff as “unacceptable, inappropriate, and will not be tolerated under any circumstances.”
Throughout the trial, Trump has made inflammatory remarks about James and Engoron to reporters outside the courtroom, even appearing in person at times. The lawsuit alleges that Trump inflated the values of his properties by billions of dollars to benefit financially from lower loan interest rates and to deceive insurers.
Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing and defended his asset valuations, arguing that banks conducted their own due diligence and benefited from the loans. The trial has centered on examining emails and financial documents to determine the legitimacy of Trump’s valuations.
In addition to this civil fraud trial, Trump also faces criminal charges in four other cases related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results, mishandling classified documents, and hush money paid to a porn star. He has pleaded not guilty in those cases. Furthermore, a civil damages trial for defamation is scheduled for January, in which Trump is accused of raping a writer who he denies.
On October 17, a federal judge in Washington barred Trump from making public statements targeting U.S. prosecutors, court staff, and potential witnesses involved in a federal case against him. Trump is appealing that order.
The case against Trump continues to have significant political implications, as he seeks to maintain his position as the Republican frontrunner. However, the outcome of these legal battles may have a substantial impact on his future prospects.