Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, is facing contempt charges in the UK High Court after declining to comply with a court order requiring him to pay £300,000 ($380,000) in legal expenses. This marks the first instance of a former or current US president being convicted in a criminal case.
Trump’s refusal to pay stems from a lawsuit against Christopher Steele, a former MI6 agent who prepared a dossier alleging Russian intervention in the 2016 US election. The British High Court dismissed Trump’s lawsuit against Steele’s company, Orbis Business Intelligence, in February.
Despite a formal settlement offer from Orbis in March, Trump’s lawyers have yet to respond, putting him in contempt of court.
During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump’s political rivals, including Hillary Clinton, commissioned Steele to create the dossier. Steele asserts that Trump’s violation of the court order shows contempt for the UK legal system and suggests that Trump must face “enforcement” if he travels to the UK in the future.
In an interview with Sky News, Steele highlighted that Trump has been violating the court order for the past two months, despite an initial cost order of £300,000 being awarded in February and confirmed in March. Steele believes Trump’s actions are motivated by a desire for vengeance or to silence him.
Steele emphasized the significance of legal costs in litigation and accused Trump of attempting to postpone legal issues until after what Trump perceives as his potential re-election in November. Steele criticized Trump’s disregard for the UK legal system, stating that Trump has shown contempt for the court’s ruling.
Trump has paid £10,000 as surety against legal fees to the court, which was given to Steele in February. Trump argues that the Steele report contained errors and violated his Data Protection Act rights by including unfounded charges of bribery and salacious assertions about his activities in Moscow.
The situation underscores the ongoing legal challenges faced by Trump following his presidency and highlights the international ramifications of his legal battles. Trump’s refusal to comply with the court order could result in further legal consequences if he chooses to travel to the UK in the future.
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