“Judge Arthur Engoron ordered Trump to take the stand, questioned him about remarks he made outside the courtroom, and fined Trump $10,000 for violating his gag order,” NBC News reports.
Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, returned to the stand to deliver testimony in the $250 million civil fraud trial brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Trump briefly spoke the media and made comments about Cohen.
“He’s proven to be a liar,” Trump told reporters.
“He’s a felon, convicted felon for lying, went to jail for lying, and this is their only witness,” he added.
“When you think about it, it’s pretty amazing,” he noted.
“I don’t get a jury. This is a trial that should have never been brought, but if we had a jury it would have been fair at least, even if it was a somewhat negative jury. Because no negative jury would vote against me. But this judge will because this judge is a very partisan judge, with a person who’s very partisan sitting alongside of him. Perhaps even much more partisan than he is,” Trump said.
WATCH:
Trump: "Our country has become a laughing stock all over the world" pic.twitter.com/7LYWwJ8dMy
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) October 25, 2023
Engoron fined Trump $5,000 last week for a “blatant violation” of a partial gag order.
He also threatened Trump with jail time.
He said future violations would result in “far more severe sanctions,” such as imprisonment.
“Engoron has ordered Trump to take the witness stand over his apparent violation of the judge’s gag order this morning,” NBC News stated.
Per NBC News:
Asked if he violated the gag order and if he was referring to the judge’s law clerk when he mentioned the “very partisan” person sitting next to the judge in his comments earlier in the day, Trump said, “No, not at all.” He ignored questions about whom he was referring to.
His lawyer said in court that Trump was referring to Cohen. Trump has repeatedly called Cohen a “felon,” a “rat” and a “liar,” but has no history of calling him “partisan.”
cont.
Trump took the stand for about a minute and was asked about statements he made outside the courtroom, referring to someone as “partisan.” Trump said he was referring to Cohen and not to Engoron’s law clerk, whom Trump had been previously sanctioned for criticizing.
AdvertisementThe judge asked him if he always refers to Michael Cohen by his name.
Trump’s lawyers, Kise and Habba, interjected, saying Trump refers to Cohen using words that are much, much worse than his name.
Engoron said he didn’t find the former president credible and fined him $10,000.
Judge: "As the trier of fact, I find the witness is not credible."
Judge is fining Trump $10,000
— erica orden (@eorden) October 25, 2023
Before judge issued his finding, he said: "First of all, my principal law clerk is very close to me…"You and I can see each other and we are close but not as close, and there’s a barrier between us so wouldn't that be at best somewhat ambiguous as to whom you were referring?"
— erica orden (@eorden) October 25, 2023
“The New York gag order has been in place for less than a month and the judge has already fined Donald Trump for violating it twice, one for $5,000 and now for $10,000. ‘Don’t do it again or it’ll be worse,’ the judge warns just now,” CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins wrote.
The New York gag order has been in place for less than a month and the judge has already fined Donald Trump for violating it twice, one for $5,000 and now for $10,000. “Don't do it again or it'll be worse,” the judge warns just now.
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) October 25, 2023
