The gag order imposed on the former president, Donald Trump, is being violated by him, as stated by New York prosecutors in the trial concerning hush money.

Prosecutors alleged on Thursday that Donald Trump once again breached a gag order in his hush money trial, as the legal proceedings resumed on the same day the U.S. Supreme Court deliberated on whether he should have immunity from prosecution for actions taken during his presidency.

Judge Juan M. Merchan was already contemplating whether to hold Trump in contempt and impose fines for what prosecutors claim were 10 separate violations of the order prohibiting the GOP leader from making public statements about witnesses, jurors, and others involved in the case. The prosecution then listed new instances of suspected breaches.

Assistant District Attorney Christopher Conroy highlighted additional comments made by Trump regarding key prosecution witness Michael Cohen, Trump's former attorney, in conversations with reporters outside the courtroom and in other interviews. He also mentioned a statement made by Trump about the jury being predominantly composed of "95 percent Democrats," among other things.

Meanwhile, as the Supreme Court hearings took place in Washington and Trump's former lawyers and associates faced fresh indictments in a 2020 election-related scheme in Arizona, the former president found himself in another precarious legal situation. However, Trump has a track record of navigating through such challenges unscathed — and sometimes even gaining more popularity — especially among his devoted supporters.

Trump's request to skip the New York proceedings for the day in order to attend the high court's special session was denied by Merchan, who is overseeing the trial related to the hush money scheme. Trump expressed his belief that the Supreme Court had an important argument to consider that day and that he should be present. The two cases, although distinct, were intertwined in a complex legal and political scenario with implications not only for the presumptive Republican presidential nominee but for the entire American presidency. In both cases, Trump seeks to avoid legal consequences as he pursues another White House bid. The Supreme Court's ruling will have long-term effects on future presidents, as it will address the unprecedented issue of whether a former president is immune from prosecution for actions taken during their time in office. The outcome of the Supreme Court case may not directly impact the New York City trial, which primarily focuses on Trump's actions as a candidate in 2016 rather than as president. Trump is facing 34 felony charges related to falsifying business records in connection with hush money payments to suppress damaging stories. This trial marks the first of four criminal cases against Trump to be decided by a jury.

Trump has consistently maintained his innocence regarding the charges. In New York, he refuted the stories that were suppressed, claiming they were false.

He stated, "There is no case here. This is merely a political witch hunt," in a brief address to reporters before the court. Additionally, he criticized Biden's policies and discussed his upcoming campaign events in New York.

Subsequently, Trump approached the defense table, briefly stood, whispered to lawyer Todd Blanche, and then sat down.

The trial continued with discussions on potential violations of a gag order. Conroy argued that Trump's remarks about Cohen portrayed his former personal attorney, who has since been disbarred, as a dishonest and incompetent lawyer. Cohen had pleaded guilty in 2018 to federal charges, including lying to Congress and a bank.

Conroy also highlighted Trump's recent comments about David Pecker, the Manhattan district attorney's first witness and a close friend of Trump's. Trump had praised Pecker during a campaign stop, referring to him as a "nice guy."

Conroy interpreted Trump's statements as a warning to other potential witnesses, indicating that Trump would use his platform to attack them if they were not favorable to him. He described the remarks as a "message to Pecker: be nice."

Trump displayed a dismissive attitude towards the impending decision. When questioned by journalists about whether he would pay the $1,000 fine for each of the 10 posts if instructed to do so, he responded, "I have no knowledge." He further stated, "My constitutional right has been taken away with a gag order."

In the meantime, the jurors began their day with additional testimony from Pecker, who had already explained how he and his publication utilized gossip to create sensational stories that tarnished Trump's adversaries. Equally important, they leveraged his connections to suppress scandalous stories about Trump, including a porn actor's allegation of a past extramarital encounter.

The 12-person panel observed attentively, with some taking notes, as Pecker recounted receiving a phone call from Trump during the tabloid's pursuit of former Playboy model Karen McDougal's claims of an extramarital affair with Trump.

Trump himself watched intently as his friend testified from the witness stand.

Pecker was in an investor's office in New Jersey, delivering a presentation, when an assistant interrupted and informed him that Trump was on the line, as stated by the former publisher.

"When I answered the phone, Mr. Trump said to me, 'I spoke to Michael. Karen is a nice girl. Is it true that a Mexican group is interested in purchasing her story for $8 million?' I replied, 'I absolutely do not believe that there is a Mexican group out there seeking to buy her story for $8 million.'"

Trump then sought Pecker's advice, according to the ex-publisher. Pecker testified that he advised Trump, "I think you should acquire the story" and keep it confidential.

“Pecker provided an explanation, stating that he initially believed the story to be true and thought it would be highly embarrassing for both the individual involved and his campaign. He mentioned that the woman demanded $150,000 for the rights to her story, along with additional opportunities for writing assignments and business ventures. However, it was unclear who would be responsible for covering these costs. Pecker revealed that Trump's attorney, Cohen, asked him to front the expenses, to which he questioned why he should be the one to pay. Pecker recounted that Cohen assured him he would be reimbursed and that Trump would take care of it. It is important to note that if Trump were to be convicted in the hush money investigation, it would not prevent him from running for president again. However, as it is a state case, he would not have the ability to pardon himself if found guilty. The charge carries a potential prison sentence of up to four years, although it remains uncertain if the judge would pursue incarceration. The Supreme Court is currently addressing related charges in federal court, where Trump is accused of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election. This case originated from Trump's attempts to have the charges against him dismissed. Lower courts have ruled that he cannot claim immunity for actions that allegedly sought to unlawfully interfere with the election results. The Supreme Court's handling of the case has been relatively swift, although not as expeditious as special counsel Jack Smith had hoped. This has raised concerns about whether there will be sufficient time to conduct a trial before the November election, should the justices agree with the lower courts' decision to allow Trump's prosecution.