Judge Merchan Sets May 1 Hearing Date For Trump’s New Alleged Gag Order Violations
Mark Peterson/Pool Photo via AP
Former President Donald Trump will have to be in court on Wednesday, May 1 for another hearing about his latest alleged gag order violations.
Judge Juan Merchan issued a filing on Thursday ordering Trump to be in court for a hearing concerning four new possible violations raised by the prosecution in his hush money case. Prosecutors argued on Thursday that Trump violated the gag order by Merchan four times in the span of three days, including that morning during a photo-op with construction workers in New York City.
The filing reads:
Upon reading and filing the affirmation of Assistant District Attorney Christopher Conroy, dated April 25, 2024, and the exhibits annexed thereto, and good cause having been shown on the record before the Court, it is hereby: ORDERED that pursuant to Judiciary Law § 750(A)(3), defendant Donald J. Trump show cause before the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, the Honorable Juan M. Merchan presiding, located at 100 Centre Street, Part 59, in Manhattan, on the 1st day of May, 2024 at 2:15 pm.
Merchan has yet to issue a ruling on the previous alleged gag order violations, which now total 15. If Trump is found in violation of the gag order, he faces a fine of $1,000 per violation. While Merchan can also order him incarcerated, legal experts have said it’s unlikely he’ll spend time in jail — at least not for the first group of offenses.
