Did Donald Trump violate his gag order while he was seated in court while the trial was underway?
Former federal prosecutor Ryan Goodman raised the specter of former President Donald Trump not only testing the limits of a gag order imposed on him by New York Judge Juan Merchan in his criminal falsifying business records trial — but going about it during the actual trial.
"To make these statements or have these statements made from within the courthouse would be to amplify the 'contempt' of and for the court," Goodman, who is also co-Editor-in-Chief of Just Security, wrote in a Twitter post.
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The finding comes as prosecutors cited seven instances in a supplemental affidavit that they say Trump flouted the gag order.
Goodman pointed to numerous time stamps from both Monday and Tuesday that if they hold up could pinpoint Trump's potential brazenness to flout the gag order while inside the courtroom.
"See some of the time stamps that DA identifies in new motion," wrote Goodman. "Monday 9:12 a.m. Monday 10:26 a.m. Tuesday 1:50 p.m."
A contempt hearing is slated for April 23 at 9:30 A.M. after prosecutors complained about Trump's possible violations of the gag order aimed to shield court staff, jurors, witnesses and relatives of both Merchan and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
Assistant District Attorney Christopher Conroy specifically requested a $1,000 fine for each of the alleged violations and an order forcing the 45th president to pull them off his Truth Social feed, as well as warning him that further violations "could result in jail time.”
Conroy alluded to the timing of the suspected fourth gag order violation, stating, “It’s entirely possible it was done within this courthouse."
Back on April 1, Merchan expanded the gag order that was originally issued on March 26 to also keep off-limits "the family members of any counsel, staff member, the Court or the District Attorney."