Former President Donald Trump made headlines during his hush money trial in Manhattan Criminal Court on Tuesday, not for legal matters, but for complaining about the temperature of the courthouse. Trump described the courtroom as “an ice box” and expressed his discomfort with the chilly conditions.
Despite his complaints about the temperature, the trial continued with Judge Juan Merchan ruling that Trump was in contempt of court on nine of the first ten violations of the gag order. The judge fined him $1,000 for each violation and warned that further infractions could result in “an incarceratory punishment.”
The court heard further testimony from Gary Farro, the banker for former Trump fixer Michael Cohen, who was instrumental in making a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels to cover up an alleged affair with Trump. Keith Davidson, the ex-lawyer for Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal, also played a key role in negotiating deals to keep their stories out of the press.
Despite the legal proceedings, Trump was granted a day off to attend his son Barron Trump’s high school graduation on May 17. The trial is being covered by The Independent’s Alex Woodward, who is providing updates on the proceedings.
As the trial continues, Trump’s complaints about the courthouse temperature add a touch of humor to an otherwise serious legal battle.