Trump's gag order violations could come back to haunt him at sentencing: law professor

Donald Trump has so far not even been fined for his purported gag order violations in connection with his criminal hush money cover-up case, but the judge may be planning something worse than a monetary penalty, according to a law professor Thursday.

Just Security's Adam Klasfeld reported on Thursday that, as proceedings were ending in the criminal trial in which the former president faces more than 30 felony charges, Judge Juan Merchan addressed the issue of Trump's alleged violations of the gag order in place.

Specifically, Klasfeld reported that "Justice Merchan announces he's signed the order to show cause on Trump's four latest alleged gag order violations."

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"He's scheduled a hearing on Wednesday at 2:15 p.m. ET," Klasfeld wrote.

New York University Law professor Ryan Goodman shared that news, and suggested a possible way forward for the judge. Other that the $1,000-per-violation fines, other legal experts have suggested the prosecution can simply refuse to tell Trump's team which witnesses they are calling and when.

Goodman, however, had sentencing time on his mind.

"In terms of penalties for a defendant's gag order violations, Justice Merchan can say: Mr. Trump, you should be aware that if you are convicted I can take into account violations of this court's orders in deciding on your appropriate sentence," Goodman wrote.