Former President Donald Trump railed against his New York criminal hush money case, saying the judge is bullying his legal team.
“This conflicted, Trump Hating Judge won’t let me respond to people that are on TV lying and spewing hate all day long. He is running roughshod over my lawyers and legal team,” Mr. Trump wrote in a Tuesday Truth Social post.
“The New York System of ‘Justice’ is being decimated by critics from all over the World. I want to speak, or at least be able to respond. Election Interference! RIGGED, UNCONSTITUTIONAL TRIAL! Take off the Gag Order!!!”
Mr. Trump has continuously bashed New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan as the trial reaches its second day. The former president is facing 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with hush money payments his former lawyer Michael Cohen made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.
Mr. Trump‘s lawyers have said the reimbursement payments to Mr. Cohen were legal expenses and not part of a cover-up.
The gag order doesn’t stop Mr. Trump from making comments about Judge Merchan or Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who brought the case against him. It stops the former president from commenting on the families of the judge and Mr. Bragg, along with staff or witnesses involved in the case.
Prosecutors said Monday they would like to fine Mr. Trump $3,000 for violating the gag order in three Truth Social posts. Judge Merchan said he would hear the arguments at a hearing on April 23.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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