Alvin Bragg Wants 'Maximum Fine' For Donald Trump

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said on Tuesday he wants the "maximum fine" for former president Donald Trump for social media posts they allege violate his gag order in his hush money criminal case.

Prosecutors filed a brief on Tuesday arguing Trump should be held in contempt for violating his gag order, which was imposed in March by presiding Judge Juan Merchan.

According to the brief documents, prosecutors are seeking the maximum financial sanction for a violation, which is $1,000 for each post that violates the gag order.

Prosecutors also suggested that he face 30 days in jail for subsequent violations.

Context

On Monday, Trump became the first former president in United States history to stand trial in a criminal case. Following an investigation by Bragg's office, Trump was indicted in March 2023 on charges of falsifying business records relating to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign. Daniels alleged that she had an affair with Trump in 2006, which he has denied.

Trump, the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee, has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has said the case is politically motivated against him.

What We Know

In March, Merchan imposed a gag order on Trump, barring him from making public statements about witnesses, including Cohen and Daniels, as well as lawyers and staff in the case and their families. The order excluded Merchan and Bragg. It was later expanded to include Merchan's and Bragg's families after Trump made blistering attacks toward the judge's daughter, Loren Merchan.

On Monday, the prosecution introduced a motion to sanction Trump for social media posts that they argue violate his gag order. The prosecution requested Trump be fined $1,000 for each of three potential violations.

According to the brief documents on Tuesday, prosecutors are continuing to seek the maximum financial sanction for a violation, $1,000 for each tweet, with a clear warning that subsequent violations will result in being taken into custody.

"Upon a finding of criminal contempt, the Judiciary Law authorizes a court to impose a fine not exceeding $1,000 or to sentence the contemnor to no more than 30 days jail or both, in the discretion of the court," the brief read.

Views

Joyce Vance, a former U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Alabama under the Obama administration, posted side-by-side screenshots on Saturday of Trump's Truth Social post and his gag order on X, formerly Twitter, and wrote: "There is a gag order that prohibits Trump from making public statements about witnesses concerning their participation at trial. Questioning their credibility would seem to cross that line."

Trump's former lawyer turned critic Michael Cohen, who is a star witness for Bragg in the upcoming trial responded to Trump's social media posts on Saturday and wrote on X: "When does enough become enough and the petulant man child gets a time out in lockup for his bad behavior?"

Meanwhile, Trump's spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement when the gag order was expanded: "Judge Merchan's unconstitutional Gag Order prevents President Trump—the leading candidate for President of the United States—from engaging in core political speech, which is entitled to the highest level of protection under the First Amendment."

Newsweek has reached out to Trump's spokesperson via email for comment.

What's Next?

Judge Merchan announced he will hear arguments regarding the violation of the gag order on Tuesday, April 23, at 9:30 a.m.

Update 4/16/24, 11:05 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.

Update 4/16/24, 11:30 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information