Donald Trump fined $5000 for violating gag order, warned of possible imprisonment

A judge fined former US President Donald Trump $5000 for violating the terms of a gag order after a post attacking a court clerk remained on his campaign website. The Republican frontrunner for the US presidency has also been warned about possible imprisonment.

On October 3, apartial gag order by a judge had restrictedTrump from making statements that target prosecutors, potential witnesses, and the judge's staff in relation in a case. Trump was found in violation of the same October 3 gag order, it has been revealed.

Notably, this gag order is different from the one Trump is facing in a 2020 election subversion case.

"Donald Trump has received ample warning from this Court as to the possible repercussions of violating the gag order. He specifically acknowledged that he understood and would abide by it," Judge Arthur Engoron said in his order Friday.

Also watch |Donald Trump: This is a witch-hunt by a radical lunatic

"Accordingly, issuing yet another warning is not longer appropriate; this Court is way behind the 'warning' stage," Judge Engoron reportedly said.

On October 3, Engoron had issued a partial gag order on all parties not to speak about any members of the court staff after Trump posted on Truth Social attacking Engoron’s clerk. The post claimed she was a "girlfriend" to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat. Trump had also posted apicture of the two of them together.

The post, following the October 3 gag order,was subsequently removed from Truth Social platform.

However,it was not erased from Donald Trump’s campaign website, DonaldJTrump.com.

Engoron on Friday (Oct 20)described it as a "blatant violation" of the gag order and indicatedthat the violations could result in "imprisonment."

"I learned that the subject post was never removed from the website," he said. "And, in fact, had been on that website for the past 17 days. I understand that it was removed late last night but only in response to an email."

Trump's lawyer Chris Kise said it was "inadvertent" that the post was able to live on the "back page" of Trump’s campaign website.

"Truly this appears to be inadvertent," Kise said, adding, "I certainly apologise on behalf of my clients."

WATCH WION LIVE HERE