An angry judge presiding over a case brought forward by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg against Donald Trump has forbidden the former President from speaking or posting about members of the court, “prosecutors, staff members and their relatives.”
Judge Juan Merchan, who is presiding over the Stormy Daniels so-called “hush money” trial, issued the gag order in response to a perceived “attack” by Trump on himself and his daughter, Newsweek reported.
Investigative reporter Laura Loomer asserts Merchan instituted his gag order to keep hidden his daughter’s ties to Democratic issues and candidates such as Adam Schiff and Kamala Harris.
MESSAGE FROM TRUMP:
"Judge Juan Merchan, a very distinguished looking man, is nevertheless a true and certified Trump Hater who suffers from a very serious case of Trump Derangement Syndrome. In other words, he hates me!" pic.twitter.com/mbMmcIt6ws
— Anthony Hughes (@CallMeAntwan) March 26, 2024
Trump recently spotlighted the potential conflict of interest on his Truth Social platform: “Judge Juan Merchan, a very distinguished looking man, is nevertheless a true and certified Trump Hater who suffers from a very serious case of Trump Derangement Syndrome. In other words, he hates me!”
Trump added: “His daughter is a senior executive at a Super Liberal Democrat firm that works for Adam “Shifty” Schiff, the Democrat National Committee, (Dem) Senate Majority PAC, and even Crooked Joe Biden.”
USA Today reported that Trump attacked Merchan’s daughter by name and called her “a Rabid Trump Hater who has admitted to having conversations with her father about me.”
Trump has pushed for the trial to be dismissed and repeatedly denied allegations that he had an affair with Daniels. CNN reported he recently won judgments totaling $720,000 against the former adult film star participant.
Judge Merchant denied requests to dismiss charges and set a trial date for April 15.
The New York Times reported that Trump responded to the ruling by demanding Merchant recuse himself from the case, charging the judge with having “ties to Democratic causes and candidates.”
“JUDGE MERCHAN SHOULD RECUSE HIMSELF, HE CANNOT GIVE ME A FAIR TRIAL. Likewise, for the sake of fairness, this ‘Political Opponent’ trial should take place in Staten Island, with a new and unbiased judge. The trial should not be allowed to start in the middle of my campaign for President,” Trump wrote.
The April 15 trial date falls in the middle of a fiercely contested, high-stakes political campaign. President Biden is fighting low poll numbers and questions about his age and fitness to serve a second term, while Trump is fighting four indictments, scores of charges, and multiple civil trials.
During a Monday press conference, Trump said he planned to take the stand in the trial. “I would have no problem testifying,” Trump said. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Trump also asserted that Biden has weaponized the Department of Justice (DOJ) to keep a “political opponent out of the election.” He then referred to the legal proceedings against him as examples of “lawfare,” claiming DOJ officials were “corrupt” and coordinated by “Joe Biden thugs.”
