DA suggests Donald Trump violated gag order by posting about hush-money trial judge’s daughter

NEW YORK (AP) — Manhattan prosecutors suggested Friday that Donald Trump violated his sanctions order hidden money criminal case This week by attacking the judge’s daughter and making false claims about her on social media.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s office asked Judge Juan M. Merchan to “clarify or confirm” the scope of the gag order, which he issued Tuesday, and to bar the former president and potential Republican nominee from “immediately restraining him from attacks on family members.” Instructed to stay away. ,

In a letter to Merchan, Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass argued that the restraining order on statements that interfere with or harass court employees or their families insulates the judge’s daughter from Trump’s rhetoric. He said Trump should be punished for further violations.

Trump’s lawyers argue that the DA’s office is misinterpreting the order and that it does not bar him from commenting about Lauren Merchan, a political consultant whose firm has worked with Trump’s rival Joe Biden and other Democrats. Have worked on campaigns for.

“The Court cannot ‘direct’ President Trump to do anything that is not required by the gag order,” Trump lawyers Todd Blanch and Susan Nechels wrote. “To ‘clarify or confirm’ the meaning of the gag order in the manner suggested by the People would be to expand it.”

The trial, which involves allegations that Trump falsified payment records to conceal negative stories during his 2016 presidential campaign, is scheduled to begin April 15. Trump has denied wrongdoing and has pleaded not guilty 34 cases of falsifying business records,

In his post Wednesday on his Truth social platform, Trump wrote that Lorraine Merchan “makes money working to get Trump” and accused her of falsely posting a social media photo that showed her behind bars. Has gone.

a spokesperson for New YorkThe state court system said Trump’s claim was false and that the social media account Trump was referring to no longer belonged to Lauren Merchan.

The account on represents manipulation that he abandoned long ago,” said court spokesman Al Baker.

In the same Truth Social post, Trump complained that his sanctions order was “illegal, un-American, unconstitutional.” He said Judge Merchan was attempting to “wrongfully deprive me of my First Amendment right to speak out against the weaponization of law enforcement” by Democratic rivals.

The order, like Trump’s Washington, D.C., election interference criminal case, also bars any statements that interfere with or harass court staff, the prosecution team or their families. However, Trump is free to criticize Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, the elected Democrat whose office is prosecuting Trump — but Steinglass wants to keep his family off limits, too.

In his letter, Steinglass urged the judge to “make absolutely clear” to Trump that the gag order protects his family, Bragg’s family and the family members of all other individuals covered under the gag order. He urged Marchant to warn Trump that “his recent conduct is outrageous and direct him to stop doing so immediately.”

Violating the gag order could result in Trump being convicted of contempt of court, fined or even jailed.

Trump’s lawyers argued against any such warning, citing constitutional concerns about further restricting Trump’s speech while he campaigns for president and fights criminal charges.

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