'Don't do it again or it will be worse,' judge tells Trump
"Don't do it again or it will be worse," Judge Engoron told former President Trump after fining him $10,000 for violating the limited gag order he imposed prohibiting comments about his staff.
The judge made the comment after Trump's lawyers raised concerns with the sanction.
Trump attorney Chris Kise specifically criticized Engoron for not believing Trump's testimony, which the judge described as "not credible."
"I think the speaker needs to be taken at face value," Kise said.
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Trump attorneys Alina Habba and Clifford Robert also criticized how closely Engoron appears to work with his clerk during the trial, which they described as unorthodox.
"I make the final decisions. I value input from both of my law clerks. Every judge does things differently," Engoron said.
When Trump took the stand, the former president sat still but appeared unfazed by the sudden turn of the events.
While Engoron issued his ruling, Trump sat with his arms crossed at the counsel table and briefly conferred with Kise.