Donald Trump on Saturday continued to test the limits of a New York judge’s gag order ahead of the start Monday of the criminal trial to silence the money in New York.
When turning to Truth Social to complain about the upcoming trial, the former president criticized several people involved in the case, including his former fixer Michael Cohen, who is expected to be a key witness for the prosecution.
“Was disgraced lawyer and criminal Michael Cohen prosecuted for LYING?” Trump wrote.
Under gag order issued last month by Judge Juan Merchan, the Manhattan judge presiding over the silent trial, Trump is prohibited from making any public statements about potential witnesses “concerning their potential participation” in the case.
Trump also denigrated Merchan and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. The terms of the gag order do not prevent him from attacking them.
“There is no way I can have a fair trial (of Biden) on Monday with Judge Juan Merchan, who is completely conflicted and corrupt, presiding,” Trump wrote.
And he accused Bragg of opening the case against him “for the purpose of saving the WORST PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. ELECTORAL INTERFERENCE!”
The judges in three of Trump’s cases — two criminal and one civil — have imposed gag orders in recent months aimed at curbing his inflammatory comments about witnesses, court staff, prosecutors and others. In all four criminal cases, he is also under conditions of release that prohibit him from intimidating potential witnesses against him.
Judge Arthur Engoron, the judge who oversaw Trump’s recent civil trial for corporate fraud, fined Trump twice for violating a gag order in that case. Engoron imposed the gag after Trump launched social media attacks against the judge’s clerk.
In his federal criminal case in Washington for attempting to overturn the 2020 election, Trump took advantage of a brief pause in his gag order – while he appealed it in October – to mount an attack on his former chief of staff, Mark Meadows. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan said the comment would certainly have violated her gag order if it had been in effect. A federal appeals court later reinstated the gag, which is still in effect.
And Trump has already flirted with violating Merchan’s gag order. He posted news articles and a video clip of a cable news segment that criticized Merchan’s daughter after the judge explicitly expanded the order to include family members.
When asked to comment on Trump’s latest posts, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung called Merchan’s gag order “unconstitutional,” saying it prevents Trump from engaging in “core political speech, which he is entitled to.” to the highest level of protection under the First Amendment.”
“Worst of all, the gag order violates the civil rights of more than 100 million Americans who follow President Trump and have a First Amendment right to receive and hear his speech,” Cheung said. “American voters have a fundamental right to hear the uncensored voice of the leading candidate for the highest office in the land.”
Trump’s final speech comes before his rally in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, on Saturday night, the last before jury selection begins in his trial in New York on Monday. The trial, in which he is accused of falsifying business records to cover up a sex scandal with a porn star, will harm the former president’s ability to participate in the campaign, although he is expected to incorporate the cases against him into his campaign by speaking to media after the trial and continuing to raise funds for his charges.
It will be the first time that a former US president has been criminally tried.
In a trial that could last two months, Trump will have to be in court at least four days a week, highlighting the conflict between his legal dangers and his effort to regain the White House. He will have Wednesdays and weekends free, which he will likely use for campaign events outside the courthouse in Lower Manhattan.
A New York Times/Siena survey published on Saturday found that the majority of likely voters believe Trump committed “serious federal crimes.” When asked specifically about the New York case, 46 percent of these voters said the former president should be found guilty – a verdict that could harm his standing with a portion of the electorate, especially independent voters.
This story originally appeared on Politico.com read the full story
