Seven more times........

‘Ridiculous’: Prosecutors say Trump has violated gag order seven more times

They previously asked the Trump to hold the former president in contempt.

ERICA ORDEN

Prosecutors accused Donald Trump this morning of violating Justice Juan Merchan's gag order seven more times. They called his behavior "ridiculous."

The new allegations come after prosecutors earlier this week asked Merchan to hold Trump in contempt for three prior alleged violations of the gag order. The gag generally prohibits Trump from publicly commenting on potential witnesses, jurors and other people involved in the case.

Prosecutor Christopher Conroy described the “most disturbing” example as a social media message Trump posted on Wednesday evening quoting a Fox News host as saying, "They are catching undercover Liberal Activists lying to the Judge in order to get on the Trump Jury."

He also flagged several examples of Trump having posted on his campaign website and on his social media accounts messages concerning his former lawyer Michael Cohen, who is expected to be a key trial witness. The messages had pictures of Cohen, and some contained links to a New York Post article calling Cohen a “serial perjurer.”

“These statements all violate your order,” Conroy told the judge, noting that the judge had previously told Trump's lawyers to speak to their client about complying with the gag.

Conroy said prosecutors would add the examples to their existing request to hold Trump in contempt, adding that while they had already requested a financial penalty of $3,000, “we are still considering our options” in asking for additional punishments.

Trump’s lawyer Emil Bove disputed that Trump had violated the order, saying his “responses are political in nature.”

“Cohen has been attacking President Trump,” Bove said. “Your honor said ... the order did not prohibit President Trump from responding to political attacks.”

Bove also disputed that Trump reposting others' public comments violates the gag order.

Merchan said they would discuss the issue further next Tuesday, when he has scheduled a hearing on the request to hold Trump in contempt.