The Daily Fuckup

Justice Juan Merchan on May 6 found Donald Trump in criminal contempt again in the hush-money case, bringing the total to 10 contempt findings across three motions. The judge imposed another $1,000 fine and ordered the offending statement removed from Truth Social or Trump’s campaign website if it was still up. The ruling turned on one April 22 interview in which Trump said the jury had been picked “so fast” and claimed it was “95% Democrats.” Merchan said that comment violated the court’s expanded gag order.

The court did not accept every violation prosecutors listed in the latest contempt motion. In the written order, Merchan rejected several of the alleged breaches and found Trump in contempt only on the jury-selection remark. He also noted that Trump had already been found in criminal contempt nine times before this ruling, and that monetary penalties had not stopped further violations.

Merchan’s order also put Trump on notice that future violations of the court’s lawful orders could be punishable by incarceration if appropriate and warranted. The people had asked for another monetary sanction, and the judge followed that request with the $1,000 fine. The order said the penalty was imposed because the offending statement was made before the court’s April 30 contempt decision.

The new finding adds to a running dispute over what Trump can say publicly while the trial continues. The court’s message was plain in the order: the gag order remains in force, Trump knew about it, and this public comment crossed the line. For now, the punishment is another fine. The warning attached to it is sharper.