Trump lashes out at N.Y. judge who issued gag order in hush money case
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Former President Trump speaks during a news conference on March 25, 2024 in New York City. Photo: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
Former President Trump attacked the New York judge overseeing his first criminal case in an angry stream of Truth Social posts Wednesday, less than a day after facing a partial gag order in the case.
Why it matters: The presumptive GOP presidential nominee has once again applied his combative rhetoric on the campaign trail toward one of several legal woes he's facing.
- Trump, in a rant on Truth Social, said Acting New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan had "issued another illegal, un-American, unConstitutional 'order,' as he continues to try and take away my Rights."
- He also took aim at Merchan's daughter, Loren, who's done Democratic political consulting work, and suggested without evidence that Merchan was heeding her interests. AP reports that an X profile appearing to belong to her once featured a now-removed photo of an imprisoned Trump.
Between the lines: Under the gag order requested by prosecutors, Trump cannot make, or direct others to make, public statements about counsel, court staff and their family "with the intent to materially interfere with" work in the case."
- The gag order doesn't mention DA Alvin Bragg, who is an elected official, or Merchan and his family.
What he's saying: "So, let me get this straight, the Judge's daughter is allowed to post pictures of her 'dream' of putting me in jail, the Manhattan D.A. is able to say whatever lies about me he wants, the Judge can violate our Laws and Constitution at every turn," reads one of the posts.
- "But I am not allowed to talk about the attacks against me, and the Lunatics trying to destroy my life, and prevent me from winning the 2024 Presidential Election, which I am dominating?"
The big picture: Trump is facing four criminal indictments, with only the New York hush money case on track to move to trial in the near future.
- Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree in the case, which stems from a 2016 payment he allegedly made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
State of play: The former president was separately fined twice last year over violating a gag order in New York.
Flashback: Trump last week undercut his own lawyers in the New York civil fraud case in a post on Truth Social.
- He claimed to have almost $500 million in cash as an earlier deadline for a hefty appeal bond in the case loomed.
Go deeper: "We must make America pray again": Trump now selling Bibles
