See Judge Merchan’s Blistering Full Confrontation With Trump as He Threatened to Throw Him in Jail for Contempt

AP Photo/Seth Wenig; AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura

Recently published transcripts show Judge Juan Merchan going to great lengths in warning former President Donald Trump to abide by his court order, revealing great concern about a sanction that includes jail time but making clear just how serious he is in holding Trump in contempt.

Trump is currently on trial in Lower Manhattan for a hush-money scheme to pay off adult film star Stormy Daniels — with whom he had an affair — that is alleged to have broken election laws. Trump has been fined $10,000 for repeatedly violating a strict gag order that aims to preclude him from talking about potential witnesses in his trial.

Merchan said in his ruling, “It appears that the $1,000 fines are not serving as a deterrent; therefore, going forward, this Court will have to consider a jail sanction if recommended.”

“Mr. Trump, it’s important to understand that the last thing I want to do is to put you in jail,” Merchan added. “You are the former President of the United States and possibly the next President, as well.”

After referencing “many reasons why incarceration is truly a last resort”  and “broader implications of such a sanction,” Merchan landed on “protect the dignity of the judicial system and compel respect.”

“Your continued violations of this Court’s lawful Order threaten to interfere with the administration of justice in constant attacks which constitute a direct attack on the rule of law. I cannot allow that to continue,” Merchan concluded.

Read the full transcript. below:

THE COURT: Good morning.

Good morning, Mr. Trump.

So, the matter called into the record is the People’s motion for contempt. Before I hand down my decision, I did want to address the Defense and Mr. Trump.

Mr. Trump, as you know, the Prosecution has filed three separate motions asking this Court to find you in contempt. In a moment, I am going to hand down my decision on the third motion, in which I find you in criminal contempt for the tenth time.

It appears that the $1,000 fines are not serving as a deterrent; therefore, going forward, this Court will have to consider a jail sanction if recommended. Mr. Trump, it’s important to understand that the last thing I want to do is to put you in jail. You are the former President of the United States and possibly the next President, as well.

There are many reasons why incarceration is truly a last resort for me. To take that step would be disruptive to these proceedings, which I imagine you want to end as quickly as possible. I also worry about the people who would have to execute that sanction: the court officers, the correction officers, the Secret Service detail, among others. I worry about them and about what would go into executing such a sanction.

Of course, I’m also aware of the broader implications of such a sanction. The magnitude of such a decision is not one-sided. But, at the end of the day, I have a job to do, and part of that job is to protect the dignity of the judicial system and compel respect. Your continued violations of this Court’s lawful Order threaten to interfere with the administration of justice in constant attacks which constitute a direct attack on the rule of law. I cannot allow that to continue.

So, as much as I do not want to impose a jail sanction, and I have done everything I can to avoid doing so, I want you to understand that I will, if necessary and appropriate. Do the attorneys have any other questions about that?

I will now hand down the decision from the Court.

This is for the Defense, and this is for the People. (Whereupon, the sergeant gives copies of the Court’s decision to the parties.)

THE COURT: You can call the trial.