Judge Threatens Contempt for Trump in Civil Fraud Trial Over Social Media Post
Former President Donald Trump faces potential sanctions, including fines or even jail time, as the judge presiding over his civil fraud trial threatened to hold him in contempt. The issue arose from a social media post that remained on Trump’s campaign website despite an order to delete it. Judge Arthur Engoron deemed the retention of the post a blatant violation of his previous order. The post in question consisted of a disparaging message about a court staffer, and the judge warned that such incendiary posts can cause harm in the current heated climate.
Trump’s attorney, Christopher Kise, attributed the oversight to the vast machinery of Trump’s presidential campaign, arguing that it was unintentional. However, Judge Engoron emphasized that Trump ultimately bears responsibility for the actions of his campaign. Engoron had initially issued a limited gag order to prevent personal attacks on court personnel, following Trump’s disparaging comments about his principal law clerk.
The offending post had been deleted from Trump’s Truth Social platform, as instructed, but it had been copied into an email blast sent out by the campaign, which was then archived on Trump’s website. Only a small fraction of recipients opened the email and viewed the post on the website. Kise acknowledged the inadvertent nature of the oversight, attributing it to the complexities of amplifying social media posts and public statements during a campaign.
Judge Engoron has the authority to impose fines or imprisonment for contempt, as per New York law. This is not the first time Trump has faced such consequences. Engoron previously held him in contempt and fined him $110,000 for delaying his response to a subpoena in another investigation that led to this lawsuit.
The ongoing civil trial, filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, accuses Trump and his company of deceiving banks and insurers by inflating statements of his net worth and asset values. While Engoron has already ruled that Trump and his company committed fraud, the trial continues to address remaining claims, including conspiracy, insurance fraud, and falsifying business records.
As the trial unfolds, all eyes are on the judge’s decision regarding potential sanctions for Trump’s violation. The possible consequences, including fines or even a jail sentence, could have significant implications for the former president and his political aspirations, as he remains the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
