Former President Donald Trump is willing to go to jail rather than obey a gag order in place during his hush-money trial.
“Frankly our Constitution is much more important than jail,” Trump said to the press. “It’s not even close. I’ll do that sacrifice any day.”
Trump’s words came after Judge Juan Merchan found Trump in contempt of court Monday in Manhattan for violating a gag order for the second time, Politico reported. Merchan threatened to put Trump in jail if he continued to violate the order.
The gag order prohibits Trump from commenting on jurors and witnesses involved in the case.
Trump has amassed $10,000 in fines — $1,000 for each violation.
“It appears that the $1,000 fines are not serving as a deterrent. Going forward, this court will have to consider a jail sanction,” Merchan said Monday.
Trump seems to be using the threat of jail to his benefit by using it in his campaign literature, including in an email soliciting campaign funding, per the outlet.
“The liberal judge in New York just threatened to THROW ME IN JAIL,” the email read with the subject line, “They want me in HANDCUFFS.”
The email sought supporters to donate to the Trump National Committee JFC, which gives the money to Trump’s campaign and the Republican National Committee.
The Democratic fundraising entities are raising more money than the Republican ones, per Politico.
From the beginning of his legal woes, Trump has criticized the criminal justice system in the four separate criminal cases against him.
But he has used this to his advantage. For example, Trump raised more than $7 million the day his mugshot was taken in Fulton County, Georgia.
Support for Trump also swelled on X, formerly Twitter, after Monday’s ruling and threat of jail time.
Remove Judge Merchan!
— Mike Engleman(@RealHickory) May 7, 2024
