Judge threatens jail if Trump keeps breaking gag order
By Kayla Epstein & Madeline Halpert, in court
Former US President Donald Trump has been held in contempt of court for violating a gag order for the 10th time in his hush-money trial in New York.
Justice Juan Merchan issued his most serious warning yet to Mr Trump, saying he may face jail for further violations.
This is the second gag order ruling of the trial.
Earlier in the proceedings, the judge sided with the prosecution and fined Mr Trump $1,000 each for nine violations.
Mr Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a payment to a porn actress to keep quiet about an alleged affair. He has denied all wrongdoing.
On Monday, the third week of testimony in the first-ever criminal trial of a former president, Justice Merchan said it appeared the gag-order fines were not serving as a deterrent.
“Therefore going forward this court will have to consider a jail sanction,” he said.
“It is important that you understand that the last thing I want to do is put you in jail.”
