Former President Donald Trump is facing accusations from Manhattan prosecutors that he violated a gag order in his hush-money criminal case by targeting the judge’s daughter on social media. Prosecutors have requested Judge Juan M. Merchan to clarify the scope of the gag order and direct Trump to stop making attacks on family members. Trump’s lawyers argue that the prosecution is misinterpreting the order and that it does not restrict him from commenting about Loren Merchan, a political consultant who has worked on campaigns for Trump’s rivals.
The trial, which involves allegations that Trump falsified payment records to cover up negative stories during his 2016 presidential campaign, is set to begin on April 15. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the charges. In his posts on the Truth Social platform, Trump accused Loren Merchan of profiting by working against him and falsely claimed that she posted a photo of him behind bars on social media. However, the court spokesperson clarified that the account in question no longer belonged to Loren Merchan and had been manipulated to misrepresent her.
Trump’s comments on the gag order being “illegal, un-American, and unconstitutional” have sparked controversy, with his lawyers raising concerns about the restriction on his freedom of speech while campaigning for president and fighting criminal charges. The gag order prohibits Trump from making statements about jurors or potential witnesses in the trial, as well as interfering with or harassing court staff, prosecutors, and their families. While Trump is allowed to criticize Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, the prosecution wants his family members to be off-limits as well.
Prosecutors are pushing for the judge to warn Trump about his conduct and remind him that violating the gag order could result in being held in contempt of court, fined, or even jailed. Trump’s legal team is prepared to challenge any further restrictions on his speech, adding a potential complication to the trial preparations with jury selection looming. The case has become a battle between Trump and the prosecution over the limits of free speech and the boundaries of legal restrictions in a high-profile criminal trial. The outcome of this dispute could have significant implications for how the case proceeds and how Trump’s defense is handled as he faces multiple charges in the coming trial.
