Manhattan Prosecutors Argue Trump Violated Gag Order

Last week, Donald Trump got slapped with another gag order in the hush money case being brought by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg.

I had noted that I expected Judge Merchan to issue the gag order based on the comments and actions taken regarding Trump’s previous civil cases.

Trump went ballistic after the order was issued, attacking Judge Merchan’s daughter, which Bragg’s prosecutors are now trying to argue violated the order.

Violation

The order issued by Merchan prevents Trump from criticizing potential jurors, court staff, attorneys, or their families.

Trump then cited a post from a social media account he thought was being run by Loren Merchan, the daughter of Judge Merchan, who is presiding over the case and issued the gag order.

Trump called her a "[r]abid Trump Hater, who has admitted to having conversations with her father about me."

Trump’s Truth Social post stated, "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, 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?

"Maybe the Judge is such a hater because his daughter makes money by working to 'Get Trump,' and when he rules against me over and over again, he is making her company, and her, richer and richer. How can this be allowed?"

It was later reported that Loren Merchan was no longer associated with that account, but the damage had already been done in the eyes of Bragg’s office.

His prosecutors then went after Trump for violating the order, arguing that the "March 26 Order is properly read to protect family members of the Court.

"But to avoid any doubt... this Court should now clarify or confirm that the Order protects family members of the Court, the District Attorney, and all other individuals mentioned in the Order.”

Trump has been accused of falsifying business accounts in the case, facing 34 felony accounts after Bragg stacked the ledger entries to create an individual charge for each entry.

Most legal experts I have read have stated that Bragg was excessive in this indictment, going way overboard in a case where most people would have faced a stiff fine and slap on the knuckles.

Like New York Attorney General Letitia James, Bragg wanted to make a splash, so he went for everything he could possibly find in this case to charge Trump.

Barring any surprises, this case will start in two weeks on April 15, with Merchan seeming intent on bringing this case to a conclusion before the election.

Polling right now shows that Trump will lose roughly 30% of his support with a felony conviction, more if it leads to a jail sentence.