After further verbal attacks, a judge in New York imposed a fine of 10,000 dollars (around 9,500 euros) on former US President Donald Trump. Judge Arthur Engoron had previously called Trump to the witness stand for a few minutes in court in Manhattan, as US media consistently reported.
Trump stated that in statements earlier in the day he had not referred to a court employee, but to his former lawyer Michael Cohen, who testified against Trump for the second day in a row. However, Judge Engoron found Trump’s statements not credible, he said, and imposed the fine. According to media reports, Trump had previously described the court employee as “biased” during a break.
Numerous verbal gaffes
After Trump’s numerous verbal outbursts, the judge had previously issued an order for all those involved in the trial to refrain from personal attacks on court staff and threatened serious consequences.
The fraud trial involves allegations by the public prosecutor’s office that the ex-president, his sons and employees manipulated the value of the Trump Organization for years in order to obtain cheaper loans and insurance contracts. The Republican Trump is not threatened with a prison sentence or a direct impact on his presidential candidacy, but a conviction could cause him great business damage.
The former president wants to be re-elected next year. He is the most promising candidate for the Republican nomination. According to many observers, he is using the process as election advertising.
