Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing Donald Trump's "hush money" case in New York, has ruled that Trump has defied his gag order ten times already. Now he's put Trump on notice that he needs to pay a $1,000 fine and remove an "offending statement" from his Truth Social account, and that "future violations of its lawful orders will be punishable by incarceration."

🚨 Judge Threatens Trump with JAIL for future violations of his gag order:

“Defendant is hereby put on notice that if appropriate and warranted, future violations of its lawful orders will be punishable by incarceration.” pic.twitter.com/RGhwAOo8rg

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) May 6, 2024

MSNBC reports:

Judge Juan Merchan ruled that Donald Trump has violated a gag order in his criminal case yet again — for the 10th time. The judge said he’s imposing the maximum $1,000 fine on the defendant but noted that such penalties aren’t deterring Trump, so jail may be next for the former president and presumptive GOP presidential nominee’s next violation.

Merchan previously found Trump in contempt on nine violations in an April 30 ruling. This latest decision on Monday, as trial testimony continues, stems from separate alleged violations regarding statements about key witnesses Michael Cohen and David Pecker, as well as about the jury. Merchan found Trump in contempt for one of the alleged violations, regarding the jury statement.

The violation came from an April 22 interview in which Trump said that the jury “was picked so fast — 95% Democrats. The area’s mostly all Democrat. You think of it as a — just a purely Democrat area. It’s a very unfair situation, that I can tell you.” While the judge disagreed with the prosecution on the Cohen and Pecker statements, he said Trump’s jury statement called into question the integrity and legitimacy of the proceedings and also raised the specter of fear for the safety of the jurors and their loved ones.

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Nothing to see here: just the Democrat regime threatening to put the leading presidential candidate in jail for talking. https://t.co/2F0col8gvI

— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) May 6, 2024

This will be the surest way for Democrats to guarantee President Trump’s re-election

— Cheryl MAGA Trump2024 🧡🇺🇸 (@cheryleliz) May 6, 2024

Trump is baiting him to actually do it. It’s a beautiful thing to watch. He’s going on the offensive and that is what you have to do with these people.

— Johnny Quarantine 🥇 (@ADeeHD) May 6, 2024

This guy doesn't have the stones to put Trump in jail. He knows it would lead to a landslide victory for Trump in November.

— Dr Vincent Sativa 🇺🇸 (@The_Weed_Shop) May 6, 2024

There seems to be almost no-one Trump can mention without being in violation of this gag order. UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

— Diane Mullette (@DianeMullette) May 6, 2024

Outrageous.

— DeepState Illuminate (@TheDeep_State6) May 6, 2024

Call his bluff

— robvsnature (@robvsnature) May 6, 2024

You actually think Trump cares. The judge has painted himself into a corner.

— robvsnature (@robvsnature) May 6, 2024

I would love to see Trump in jail, with his Secret Service detail coming along. That would be epic.

Plus, like others indicated, that would give him free campaigning material as well.

— MC Taz Man (@MC_Taz_Man) May 6, 2024

Push him to the limit. Call his bluff and win the election.

— Poison Leninade (@MichaelPaladi18) May 6, 2024

But is it a lawful order?

— Tristan (@tnuh87) May 6, 2024

DO IT. Put him in jail and see the response.

— The Lord Be With You (@adklabrador) May 6, 2024

Key words are "appropriate and warranted" which this entire sham trial is clearly neither

— Robert W. (@Robert_C_W) May 6, 2024

This is election interference at the highest level.

— Jonathan Smith 🇺🇸 (@theadsmith23) May 6, 2024

This judge has got to go. This is beyond ridiculous at this point.

— Truth wins (@TradeEmbalmer) May 6, 2024

"If appropriate and warranted" — yeah, right. This gag order is inappropriate and unwarranted. How many points would Trump's poll numbers go up if they tried to put him and his Secret Service detail into a jail cell.

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