NY judge defends $10,000 fine over Trump fraud trial gag order

The New York judge overseeing former President Trump's civil fraud trial on Thursday defended his decision to fine the former president $10,000 for violating his gag order in the case.

Driving the news: "Anybody can run for president. I am going to protect my staff," Judge Arthur Engoron said on Thursday, CNN reports.

Engoron's comments came after a request by Trump's attorney Chris Kise to revisit the fine, which was issued on Wednesday, but the judge reaffirmed his penalty Thursday.

The big picture: Trump received his second fine in connection with violating his gag order Wednesday after he appeared to reference the judge's law clerk during remarks to reporters.

"This judge is a very partisan judge with a person who is very partisan sitting alongside him — perhaps even much more partisan than he is," Trump told reporters during a break in the trial on Wednesday.

Engoron issued the gag order earlier this month after Trump made a post on his Truth Social account attacking the judge's law clerk.

Trump was also fined $5,000 earlier this month after the judge learned that a Truth Social post attacking his law clerk remained on Trump's campaign site, despite an order to remove the post.