Former President Donald Trump was fined $10,000 Wednesday after a New York judge determined that he violated a court-imposed gag order during his ongoing civil fraud trial, marking the second time in less than a week that Trump has been penalized for his public statements about the proceedings.
In an extraordinary courtroom exchange, Justice Arthur Engoron briefly called Trump to the witness stand and questioned him under oath about comments he made to reporters outside the courtroom.
The judge ultimately rejected Trump's explanation and imposed the fine.
Trump Claims Judge and Court Staff Are Partisan
The controversy began when Trump spoke to reporters during a break in the trial, criticizing Engoron and referring to a partisan individual sitting beside him.
Engoron interpreted the remarks as an attack on his principal law clerk, Allison Greenfield, who regularly sits next to the judge during proceedings.
Trump insisted that he was referring to his former attorney Michael Cohen, who was testifying against him.
But Engoron was unconvinced.
"As the trier of fact, I find that the witness is not credible," the judge declared.
Engoron imposed a $10,000 fine and warned Trump that additional violations could bring more serious consequences.
Second Fine in Less Than a Week
The judge issued the original gag order on October 3 after Trump published a social media post attacking Greenfield.
The order prohibits public comments about members of the judge's staff. It does not prohibit Trump from criticizing the judge himself.
Last Friday, Engoron fined Trump $5,000 after discovering that the offending social media post remained accessible on Trump's campaign website despite an order to remove it.
Wednesday's penalty brings Trump's fines for violations of the gag order to $15,000.
Trump's attorneys disputed the latest ruling, maintaining that the former president was referring to Cohen rather than the law clerk.
Michael Cohen Testifies Against Former Boss
The confrontation occurred during testimony from Cohen, Trump's former personal attorney and longtime fixer.
Cohen has testified about his involvement in preparing financial statements that prosecutors allege exaggerated Trump's wealth and the value of his properties.
New York Attorney General Letitia James accuses Trump, his adult sons, and their business associates of manipulating property valuations to obtain favorable financial terms from banks and insurers.
Trump denies wrongdoing and maintains that the case is politically motivated.
His attorneys have attempted to undermine Cohen's credibility by highlighting his criminal convictions, previous false statements, and public hostility toward Trump.
Judge Warns Trump About Future Conduct
Engoron has repeatedly emphasized that courtroom personnel must be protected from personal attacks.
The judge expressed concern that inflammatory statements directed at court employees could expose them to threats or harassment.
Trump's legal team requested that Engoron reconsider the fine, but the judge refused.
The civil fraud trial continues as Trump campaigns for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination while defending himself against multiple legal proceedings.
For the second time in six days, Trump's public comments have resulted in a financial penalty from the judge overseeing his fraud trial. This time, the former president was required to explain himself under oath before the fine was imposed.