Prosecutor wants Trump held in contempt of court for violating gag order

New York Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass signaled he would ask Justice Juan Merchan to hold Donald Trump in contempt of court for violating a gag order against talking about witnesses in his hush money trial.

The news came on the first day of the trial at which Trump is accused of covering up a sex scandal.

"Assistant DA Steinglass notes that after the expansion of the gag order, Trump wrote a Truth Social post calling Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels 'two sleeze [sic] bags,'" Adam Klasfeld wrote from the Manhattan courtroom on Monday.

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But Trump's attorney, Todd Blanche, argued that Trump had a right to defend himself despite the gag order.

"Trump's lawyer Blanche: He was a right to defend himself, against the witnesses broadcasting loudly from the rooftop. He's facing criticism from President Biden, and the media, and he's defending himself. It's not consciousness of guilt," Matthew Russell of Inner City Press reported.

"It's going to be hard to convince me something he tweeted out to millions of people cannot be used," Merchan replied, talking about the public nature of the comments to which Trump responded.

Merchan said he would reserve judgment on the matter until Trump's attorney could file a motion. The judge earlier ruled that Trump could not talk about witnesses, court staff, or their family members.