Former President Donald Trump was fined $5,000 by a New York judge on Friday for violating a gag order not to speak about any members of the court staff – and was warned twice about possible imprisonment.
“Donald Trump has received ample warning from this Court as to the possible repercussions of violating the gag order. He specifically acknowledged that he understood and would abide by it,” Judge Arthur Engoron said in his order Friday.
“Accordingly, issuing yet another warning is not longer appropriate; this Court is way behind the ‘warning’ stage.”
Apparently it has to ratchet up, from “inconsequential” to imprisonment, specifically to show the courts increasing frustration.
Otherwise the defendant can claim bias
That’s Trump’s secret, though; he always claim bias.