The Manhattan district attorney’s office has filed a request for an extension of the gag order in the forthcoming criminal trial involving former US President Donald Trump. The charges pertain to the alleged financing of hush payments to a porn star prior to the 2016 elections. Prosecutors argue that Trump violated the existing gag order by referencing a recent social media post to a judge’s daughter and are seeking sanctions for any future infractions.
In a letter addressed to New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, the prosecutors underscored the need for intervention, stating, “The court should caution the defendant that his recent behaviour is contemptuous and instruct him to cease immediately. Failure to comply with such directives should result in sanctions under judiciary law.”
The focal point of contention revolves around a post-Trump made on his Truth Social platform. He accused the judge’s daughter of using a photo of him behind bars as her profile picture on her X account, claiming it would prejudice his chance of a fair trial. However, it was later discovered that the account in question was fraudulent, as the judge’s daughter, Lauren Merchan, had already deleted it, with another individual subsequently taking control and using the photo.
Despite the judge’s denial of any involvement, Trump and his supporters persist in alleging that the judge and his daughter are associated with the account, fueling suspicions of bias within the family.
Adding to the complexity is the strained relationship between Trump and the judge’s daughter, stemming from her role as an executive at Authentic, a political agency advising Democratic candidates. Trump had previously sought, unsuccessfully, to have the judge removed due to his daughter’s professional connections.
The judge’s ruling on whether Trump breached the gag order remains pending. The order was initially issued after Merchan admonished Trump for making threatening, inflammatory, and disparaging remarks about the case ahead of the trial, slated to commence on April 15th.
Under the terms of the order, Trump is barred from making public statements regarding trial witnesses, including their involvement in the investigation and trial. This restriction extends not only to Trump himself but also to any individuals acting on his behalf, including prosecutors and court personnel.
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