Judge threatens 'severe sanctions' as Trump again accused of violating gag order

Donald Trump left his fraud trial courtroom during a short morning recess Wednesday – and quickly appeared to violate the gag order set by Judge Arthur Engoron.

The Associated Press reported that Trump repeated attacks on the judge as a "partisan" – but added that he has "a person who is much more partisan sitting alongside of him," quoted The Messenger's Adam Klasfeld.

The implication was that Trump was talking about the court clerk who ran for a local judgeship and had photos taken with New York lawmakers like Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

POLL: Should Trump be allowed to run for office?

The gag order issued earlier this month forbids Trump from attacking any member of the court's staff, and it was put in place after Trump suggested that the same clerk was Schumer's girlfriend.

Engoron said he was taking the AP's report "under advisement."

“The last time this gag order was violated...I accepted the explanation that it was inadvertent,” he said. “This most recent statement, assuming the AP is correct, was intentional.

“I stated the last time that any future violations would be severely punished. Why should there not be severe sanctions for this blatant, dangerous disobeyal of a court order?”

He went on, “I don’t want anyone to get killed. We know from this trial and from our lives, that sometimes language is precise, and sometimes it’s not precise. It seemed clear to me.”

Trump's lawyer, Chris Kise, stepped in to defend Trump, insisting that Trump was talking about Michael Cohen, who appeared on the stand.

Trump was previously given a narrow gag order after he attacked the court clerk. Engoron said that he was absolutely prohibited from attacking any of the court staff online or otherwise.

Things got worse in court when it turned out the post was never removed from the Trump campaign website – and Trump was hit with a $5,000 fine.

“I learned that the subject post was never removed from the website,” Engoron said. “And, in fact, had been on that website for the past 17 days. I understand that it was removed late last night but only in response to an email.”

Kise argued at the time it was an "inadvertent" mistake on the "back page" of Trump's campaign site.

“It appears no one also took down the ICYMI link that’s in the campaign website in the back pages,” Kise said.

“Truly, this appears to be inadvertent,” Kise pleaded at the time. “I certainly apologize on behalf of my clients.”