Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg filed a motion to hold former President Trump in contempt of court, claiming Trump violated a gag order by making three social media posts about witnesses Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels in his criminal trial.
The judge had imposed the gag order to prevent Trump from making extrajudicial statements that could influence the trial.
“Over the past few weeks I have been asked countless times to comment on reports of an alleged sexual relationship I had with Donald Trump many, many, many years ago,” Daniels’ statement says. “I am not denying this affair because I was paid ‘hush money’ as has been reported in overseas owned tabloids. I am denying this affair because it never happened.”
“I recently became aware that certain news outlets are alleging that I had a sexual and/or romantic affair with Donald Trump many, many, many years ago. I am stating with complete clarity that this is absolutely false,” Daniels wrote in 2018. “My involvement with Donald Trump was limited to a few public appearances and nothing more.”
Bragg argued the posts warranted not just fines but possible jail time of up to 30 days.
Specifically, Bragg said Trump’s posts included sharing statements from Cohen and Daniels, criticizing the judge/prosecutors, and commenting on Mark Pomerantz, a former prosecutor who resigned from the case.
“Rumors that I have received hush money from Donald Trump are completely false,” the letter read. “If indeed I did have a relationship with Donald Trump, trust me, you wouldn’t be reading about it in the news, you would be reading about it in my book. But the fact of the matter is, these stories are not true.”
Bragg is seeking to have Trump held accountable to deter future violations while Trump claims prosecution is unjust and motivated by his political opponents.
The contempt motion is part of the historic trial where Trump faces charges related to hush money payments to Daniels in 2016.
“Has Mark POMERANTZ been prosecuted for his terrible acts in and out of the D.A.’s Office,” Trump wrote. “Has disgraced attorney and felon Michael Cohen been prosecuted for LYING? Only TRUMP people get prosecuted by this Judge and these thugs! A dark day for our Country. MAGA2024!!!”
