What you missed on Day 12 of Trump's trial: Another gag order ruling and details on how Michael Cohen was paid

Two new witnesses took the stand Monday on the 12th day of Donald Trump’s hush money trial, shortly after the judge overseeing the case again cited the former president of violating the gag order he imposed last month.

Ahead of trial testimony, Judge Juan Merchan found that Trump ran afoul of the order prohibiting him from attacking witnesses and others involved in the case. Trump was fined $1,000 and warned that he could face jail time “if necessary” for any further violations.

When testimony resumed, a former Trump Organization executive and the first current employee described how many of the large sums that went to Michael Cohen, for the alleged purposes of hush money payments, came directly from Trump’s bank account.

Trump has been charged with 34 counts related to falsifying business records, which Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said the former president engaged in to obscure hush money payments to adult film actor Stormy Daniels in the final days of the 2016 presidential campaign. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges. He has also denied having an affair with Daniels.

Judge threatens Trump with jail time

Merchan started the fourth week of the trial by imposing a $1,000 fine on Trump, who was fined $9,000 last week for nine previous gag order violations.

“It appears that the $1,000 fines are not serving as a deterrent,” Merchan said while handing down the ruling.

“The last thing I want to do is to put you in jail. You are the former president of the United States, and possibly the next president as well,” Merchan said. “There are many reasons why incarceration is truly a last resort for you.”

The judge acknowledged the magnitude of jailing Trump and how “disruptive to the proceedings” it would be.