Donald Trump could be held in contempt in the historic hush money trial after prosecutors produced seven more social media posts they claim violate a gag order.
Attorneys for the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said the former president should be punished for sharing a New York Post article calling Michael Cohen a ‘serial perjurer’ and ’embarrassment’ to the court system.
Another was Trump resharing a quote from Fox News host Jesse Watters saying the defense team is ‘catching undercover liberal activists lying to the judge’ to get on the jury.
Donald Trump could be held in contempt in the historic hush money trial after prosecutors produced seven more social media posts they claim violate the gag order
Judge Juan Merchan has scheduled a hearing over violations of the gag order next week, and could even be jailed if he keeps flouting the guidelines.
The stern warning kicked off the third day of jury selection in the trial where Trump also risked angering the judge by taking a phone call.
He only spoke briefly before his lead attorney Todd Blanche spoke to him.
Judge Merchan then scolded the media for reporting too many details about members of the jury.
He urged the press not to reveal accents, where they work or too much about their physical appearance.
A juror who had already been selected was dramatically dismissed after she admitted fears she couldn’t be impartial.
The juror who dropped out had been among seven people so far selected from a pool of hundreds to sit in deliberation on Trump.
Judge Merchan told the court the juror had ‘conveyed after sleeping on it overnight she had concerns about her ability to be fair and impartial’.
Prosecutors said this post of Trump resharing a quote from Fox News host Jesse Watters violated the gag order
Attorneys for the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said the former president should be punished for sharing a New York Post article calling Michael Cohen a ‘serial perjurer’ and ’embarrassment’ to the court system
Trump in court for day three of jury selection in his hush money trial
The woman was then brought to court and asked by Judge Merchan to explain herself.
She said: ‘Yesterday alone, I had friends, colleagues, and family push things to my phone, questioning my identity as a juror.
‘I don’t believe at this point I can be fair and unbiased and let the outside influence not affect my decision making in the courtroom.’
Judge Merchan said: ‘I’m sorry you went through that’ and excused her.
Judge Merchan also has ordered Trump not to attack potential jurors in the case, a rule the former president is threatening to break.
CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin said the post ‘was ‘clearly barred by the gag order in this case.’
Trump has frequently attacked the credibility of his former fixer Michael Cohen, who was jailed for his part in the ‘hush money’ plot
Deputy communications chief Margo Martin gets into a convoy vehicle
Trump aide Natalie Harp on her way to court for day three of jury selection
Trump headed to court for the third day of jury selection
He added: ‘Criminal defendants have different and lesser rights than ordinary citizens. They are not allowed to interfere in the trial process, especially when there is a gag order that specifically addresses attempts to intimidate jurors. It is just not permissible.’
So far, seven jurors have been picked to sit in deliberation.
They include an oncology nurse, a software engineer, an information technology professional, a sales professional, an English teacher and two lawyers.
Judge Merchan has said he anticipates opening statements in the landmark case to be given as early as next week.
The jury selection process has moved more quickly than expected and Trump has complained that Judge Merchan, is “rushing” the trial.