'Way over the line': CNN analyst expects Trump will get whacked for violating gag order

Former President Donald Trump has blatantly violated the gag order in his Manhattan criminal trial, and the judge is likely to take action against him, said former federal prosecutor Elie Honig on CNN Tuesday morning.

Trump, who has already been fined multiple times for violating gag orders in his civil trials, faces a hearing later today on his conduct, where Judge Juan Merchan will decide whether to hold him in contempt of court, including fines or even possibly temporary confinement to jail.

"Walk us through what exactly this gag order covers and also, if Trump is pushing against the limits — just pushing against the limits, or if he's trampling all over it already," asked anchor Kate Bolduan.

"Well, Kate, so it's important to understand, first of all, the gag order at issue here is actually quite narrow and specific," said Honig. "What it says is that Donald Trump cannot make public comments about really three groups of people: jurors, likely witnesses, and staff members, and their family court and prosecutorial staff members and their family members." And what that means, he added, is that "the gag order actually allows Donald Trump to criticize — loudly, if he wants — the judge, the D.A., and the indictment itself."

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However, he continued, "as to your question about whether he's come close to the line, I think he's way over the line."

In particular, Honig noted, Trump has publicly posted attacks against his former attorney and fixer Michael Cohen — a key witness in the case — calling him among other things a "sleazebag" and a "serial perjurer."

"I mean, that is obviously negative public commentary about a witness, true or false," said Honig. "It clearly, in my mind, violates the gag order."

Watch the video below or at the link here.

Elie Honig says Trump's gag order violations are "way over the line" www.youtube.com