Judge finds Trump in contempt for 10th time (2024)

Judge Juan Merchan has found Trump in contempt for violating the gag order again.

"Going forward this court will have to consider a jail sanction," Merchan says, noting the $1,000 fine is not stopping him.

Judge Juan Merchan is back on the bench and the court is in session.

"Good morning Mr. Trump," Merchan said.

Trump just walked into the courtroom accompanied by his attorneys. His son Eric Trump is also attending the trial today.

Jason Miller took a seat in back, too.

Prosecutors have entered the courtroom as they prepare to continue to present their case against Donald Trump in the criminal hush money trial.

It’s unclear who the prosecutors will call as their next witness.

Remember: Prosecutors need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump falsified business records with the intent to commit or conceal another crime, but they don’t have to prove that Trump committed that crime.

Donald Trump’s motorcade is arriving at the Manhattan courthouse, where the former president is expected to attend witness testimony in his historic criminal trial.

It is unclear who will take the stand when court resumes at 9:30 a.m. ET.

Former President Donald Trump’s first criminal trialis expected to take six to eight weeks, from start to finish.

Where we are in the trial: Prosecutors are presenting evidence through witness testimony and exhibits. Defense attorneys can cross-examine the prosecution’s witnesses and typically aim to discredit their testimony. It’s unclear who the prosecutors will call as a witness next.

To better understand what’s going on, here are the steps of a criminal trial.

Read up on the stages of the proceedings here.

Former President Donald Trump's motorcade is en route to the Manhattan courthouseto attendhis criminal hush money trial.

It’s unclear who the prosecutors will call as a witness next. Trump White House aides, Trump Organization employees, Stormy Daniels and Michael Cohen are all still on deck for prosecutors to call.

Trump’s former campaign press secretary and White House communications director Hope Hicks concluded her testimony on Friday. She described the fallout from the “Access Hollywood” tape and the Trump White House response to stories about hush money payments — just feet away from her former boss.

Meanwhile, the judge is yet to rule on the four additional gag order allegations against Trump.

CNN's Kristina Sgueglia contributed reporting to this post.

Donald Trump has been accused of taking part in an illegal conspiracy to undermine the integrity of the 2016 election and an unlawful plan to suppress negative information, which included a hush money payment made to an adult film star to hide an affair.The former president has denied the affair.

Prosecutors allege that Trump allegedly disguised the transaction as a legal payment and falsified business records numerous times to “promote his candidacy.” Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records. He has pleaded not guilty.

Donald Trump has continued to rail against the gag order issued by Judge Juan Merchan that blocks the defendant from speaking out about potential witnesses and most people in or associated with the court or the New York district attorney’s office. (The judge himself and Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg are not covered.)

Trump hasrepeatedlymade the gag order sound far broader than it is,CNN fact checker Daniel Dale wrote. For instance, Trumpclaimedat a Wednesday campaign rally in Michigan that “I’m not even supposed to be, I would say, talking to you, because he gagged me” – though the gag order actually says nothing to prevent him from making a campaign speech.

He’s also said previously it would prevent him from taking the stand. But while Trump acknowledged to reporters Friday morning that the gag order doesn’t impact his ability to testify if he chose to do so, the judge made clear there was no doubt.

Trump has paid the $9,000 fine he was assessed for previously breaking the gag order, using two cashier’s checks.

Merchan did not, however, rule on theadditional alleged gag order violationsbrought against Trump.