Bragg threatens 30 days of jail time in Trump contempt of court motion

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg called on Judge Juan Merchan to threaten former President Trump with 30 days in jail as part of his contempt of court motion on Tuesday.

Bragg is urging Manhattan Judge Merchan to warn Trump that "future violations" of the gag order against him can be punished "not only with additional fines, but also with a term of incarceration of up to thirty days." 

Merchan last month imposed a gag order on Trump, due to his "prior extrajudicial statements." Merchan said they established "a sufficient risk to the administration of justice."

Merchan ordered that Trump cannot make or direct others to make public statements about witnesses concerning their potential participation or about counsel in the case — other than Bragg — or about court staff, DA staff or family members of staff.

Merchan also ordered that Trump cannot make or direct others to make public statements about any prospective juror or chosen juror.

During the first day of the criminal trial and start of jury selection, Manhattan prosecutors suggested Trump had violated the order on three separate occasions on social media. Prosecutors said Trump should be fined $3,000 for the three alleged violations of the gag order — $1,000 for each violation.