Justice Merchan has begun by issuing his most serious warning yet to Trump.

He warns that he will consider a jail sentence if Trump continues to violate the gag order.

It appears that the $1,000 fines are not serving as a deterrent, Justice Merchan said.

“Therefore going forward this court will have to consider a jail sanction.”

“It is important that you understand that the last thing I want to do is put you in jail,” the judge said.

He acknowledges that Trump is a former president of the United States – and may yet be president again.

Justice Merchan acknowledges that putting Trump in jail would be very disruptive to the proceedings.

But he calls the gag order violations “a direct attack on the rule of law” that he cannot abide.

“At the end of the day I have a job to do and that job is to protect the dignity of the judicial system,” he said.

Justice Merchan told Trump he had found him in contempt for the 10th time.