On Thursday, May 2, a Manhattan criminal court imposed a $9,000 fine on former US President Donald Trump for nine social media posts deemed to violate a gag order and court contempt.
The judge cautioned Trump that repeated violations could lead to imprisonment.
Recall that on April 15, a trial commenced in Manhattan's criminal court concerning cash payments from Trump to porn actress Stormy Daniels. The case alleges that $130,000 was intended to secure Daniels' silence regarding her extramarital affair with a politician.
This trial marks the first criminal proceeding in US history against a former president. It unfolds amidst the backdrop of the ongoing presidential election campaign in which Trump is a participant. He unsuccessfully sought to postpone the trial.
In addition to this trial, Trump faces multiple criminal charges related to his efforts to contest the 2020 presidential election results and his involvement in the January 6 Capitol insurrection by his supporters. Proceedings for these cases have yet to commence.
Trump contends that these legal actions are Democratic attempts to sideline him from the elections. However, the US Constitution does not prohibit a convicted individual from seeking office as head of state unless they participated in a rebellion. Such charges may apply to him in cases linked to January 6.
