The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s hush money trial expanded the gag order to include family members of the court and Manhattan district attorney, following comments made by Trump against Judge Juan Merchan’s daughter. The judge warned that Trump’s rhetoric could instill fear in those involved in the proceedings for their loved ones, interfering with the fair administration of justice and attacking the Rule of Law. The threat to the integrity of the judicial proceedings was deemed very real, prompting the judge to expand the gag order to include family members of those involved in the case.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office requested the expanded gag order to prevent Trump from attacking family members of people involved in the case. Last week, a gag order was issued to stop Trump from making statements about certain individuals, but he defied the order by launching posts on social media. Trump claimed that the judge was “compromised” and identified the judge’s daughter by name, although the posts were not from her. Trump has defended his actions, citing First Amendment rights to engage in campaign speech and defend himself.
Despite Trump’s arguments, prosecutors contended that his recent attacks do not constitute campaign advocacy, but instead involve viciously smearing the court and family members without reason. Trump’s defense team opposed the expansion of the original gag order, arguing that it already went too far and improperly restricted campaign advocacy. They indicated that they might appeal the order ahead of the judge’s ruling, accusing the judge’s family members of being fair game for Trump’s public criticisms, according to news reports.
Merchan accused Trump’s attorneys of presenting a “farcical” argument in defense of the dangerous rhetoric directed at the court and family members. The judge denied a request from Trump’s lawyers to file a recusal motion to remove him from the case just two weeks before the trial is set to begin, based on changed circumstances and newly discovered evidence. This ruling comes after Merchan previously denied a similar recusal motion from Trump last year. The story and headline have been updated to reflect these additional developments.
