Former President Donald Trump criticized Judge Juan M. Merchan on social media for issuing a gag order ahead of his hush-money trial. Trump accused the judge of bias and claimed that Merchan’s daughter, Loren Merchan, a Democratic political consultant, had posted a photo wishing to see him jailed.
However, court officials refuted this claim, stating that the social media account in question no longer belonged to Loren Merchan.
The gag order, which prohibits Trump from making statements about jurors and witnesses, was requested by prosecutors but does not bar criticism of the court or Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
Trump’s criticism of Merchan’s daughter came after conservative commentator Laura Loomer claimed to have found her X account.
However, Merchan had previously dismissed concerns about his impartiality despite making small donations to Democratic causes during the 2020 campaign. He asserted his commitment to fairness and said that Trump’s lawyers had failed to show any grounds for recusal.
The gag order, intended to prevent Trump’s “threatening, inflammatory, denigrating” remarks from influencing the trial, was imposed reluctantly as the trial date approached.
The hush-money trial, set to be Trump’s first criminal trial, revolves around allegations of falsifying business records related to payments made to Michael Cohen to silence Stormy Daniels.
Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying records and denies any wrongdoing.
Despite his objections to the gag order, Trump’s statements have raised concerns about the integrity of the trial, prompting the judge to take measures to protect those involved.
While Trump’s criticisms may indicate tensions, the trial is proceeding as planned, with Merchan reaffirming his commitment to upholding the law and ensuring justice is served.
