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Jamie Kelter Davis for POLITICO
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Donald Trump’s extraordinary inability to keep his mouth shut has been costly this year — and it could get a lot worse.
The defamation verdict in the E. Jean Carroll lawsuit already took him for nearly $100 million, and on Monday, he was again held in contempt for violating a gag order that prohibits attacks on witnesses and jurors in his Manhattan hush money trial. It marked the 10th time Trump’s comments had officially crossed the line, and Justice Juan Merchan has been fining him $1,000 per violation. Of perhaps more consequence to Trump, Merchan also warned the former and potential future president that he could be sent to jail if he continues to defy the gag order.
It’s hard to imagine Trump will stop railing against the case on social media and at his campaign rallies, but it’s possible that he can manage just enough impulse control to stay on the right side of the court’s orders going forward.